Proverbs 18:21,  "The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit." James 1:26,  "If you claim to be religious but don't control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless."

Think

"Words have the power of life and death." Think about the most influential people who have ever lived. On one hand, there are people like Martin Luther King, Jr., Abraham Lincoln, and Billy Graham. On the other hand, there are those like Hitler, Castro, and Bin Laden. As opposite as these two groups of people appear, they actually have something in common. They all leveraged words to change the world. Some for good; others for evil. Words have the ability to develop or destroy, excite or execute, inspire or incinerate. This isn't just true on a global level. It's true personally as well. Human beings, unlike any other creature, have been given the gift to specifically and strategically communicate through words. What we do with that gift, with those words, is up to us. So as you go through your day, consider carefully the power of the words you speak. Look for ways to use your words to influence others for good. Make the most of this amazing gift from God!

Act

Do a conversational audit of the words you have shared over the last 24 hours. Do you see a trend of words that build others up? Or, are too many of those words tearing others down? Begin to shift your language and your speech patterns to bring joy, purpose, and direction to the people around you.

Pray

God, thank you for the ability to communicate through words. Help me to make the most of this gift each day, as I focus on the words you would have me say. Amen.