No Neutral Words (Proverbs 18:21)

All over the Bible

This one jumped around: Proverbs 18:21 and James 3, where James spends an entire chapter on the tongue. "Death and life are in the power of the tongue."

The hand of the tongue

DeWayne notes the Hebrew literally speaks of the tongue's "hand," as if words could build or tear down like hands. And there's no neutral. Every word lifts someone up or pushes them down.

You go where your words go

The proverb adds that those who love the tongue eat its fruit. Keep talking negatively and your life follows. In sales, DeWayne says, a customer who has said yes all through a presentation finds it hard to say no at the end. Words shape direction.

From the group

One salesman shared that since joining the morning devotional he'd asked God to help with his mouth, and two and a half months later he was profanity-free. Another admitted traffic is his weak spot. Another said it all sounds good on paper until emotions kick in. DeWayne agreed and told a road-rage story with his wife and kids in the car. James is right: no one tames the tongue alone.

Try this

• Make your first words tomorrow encouraging ones.
• Notice which situations trigger your worst words, and pray ahead of them.