We are bombarded with caustic language these days. We hear it on television, in the marketplace, and on social media. Accusations, aggressive attitudes, and crude language shroud us in an invisible cloud of blue smoke. Whether someone is venting their anger or stridently promoting an idea or cause, it can easily lead to disorder and division.

When we hear this disturbing language we may allow ourselves to get worked up, complaining about the people who stir up strife with their inciting talk. And that can lead us to speak out in ungodly words of our own.

Where do these spiteful words come from anyway?

Listen to Jesus words:

A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart,
and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart.
For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.
Luke 6:45

In the NKJV the verse ends with, “For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”

If we hear unkind, angry, or venomous words come from our own mouths we need to examine our hearts and bring any dishonoring thing we find there to the Lord. He offers forgiveness and cleansing for all who comes to him in repentance.

So what does the Bible say about our words? Let’s take a look.

Gracious words are a honeycomb,
sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
Proverbs 16:24

When someone speaks grace-filled words to me I feel loved and respected. I experience joy and peace. And the Lord is glorified. We should seek to offer others grace-filled words that will bring sweetness and healing to them.

Here is an admonition:

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of
your mouths,
but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs,
that it may benefit those who listen.
Ephesians 4:29

According to Paul, our words are for the benefit of others. What if we always approached our conversations with the listener in mind?

See Ephesians 4:29-31 for a list of attitudes that Paul says grieve the Holy Spirit, and would lead to unwholesome talk.

Instead, Paul gives us this instruction:

Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt,
so that you may know how to answer everyone.
Colossians 4:6

We have sweet words, which bring delight and healing. And we have words seasoned with salt, which brings out the truth that the listener needs to hear.

How do we keep our words gracious, salty, and God-honoring? We can start with a prayer.

Set a guard over my mouth, Lord;
keep watch over the door of my lips.
Psalm 141:3

We can ask the Lord to help us each day to speak words that glorify him and encourage others. He will help us hear our words how other people hear them. And he will help us sweeten our language as we trust him to guard our mouths.

Here’s another prayer of David.  It not only concerns his words but also the source of his words.

May these words of my mouth
and this meditation of my heart
 be pleasing in your sight, Lord,
my Rock and my Redeemer.
Psalm 19:14

If the meditation of our hearts is not pleasing in God’s sight, our words won’t be either. But as we pray toward that end we can be assured that he will answer our prayer. He will show us how to focus our thoughts and our meditations on him. What a wonderful way to spend our days.

Finally, Paul reminds us of our main goal in life. As people made, loved, and redeemed by God through Jesus Christ, this is how we are called to live our lives:

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed,
do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Colossians 3:17

For the glory of God,
Ginger