“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”  (Proverbs 18:21).  

The tongue is a mighty weapon. It can be used for good or evil, so the words you speak are very significant.  The main question you have to ask yourself is:  Which spirit is governing the use of my  tongue?  Is it the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus or the spirit of sin and death?

The enemy of your soul is just waiting for you to give him  legal access into your life through the use of your words. When you open the door and speak ungodly words, you allow him to wreak havoc in your life. He loves to cause offense, strife and divison in families because once a house is divided it will fall. 

The Lord brought this poem to my mind today for a purpose. He inspired me to write it years ago when I was meditating on the power of  deadly words. I have been thinking about how  families all over the globe are severely divided and broken down. Stored up toxic emotions have been released like  missiles through deadly words. The enemy uses them to bring great damage and destruction.

 The Good News is that God has provided something even more powerful to overcome such deadly words. It is the Word of God which brings resurrection life in Christ Jesus! God is still in the business of reconciliation.  He wants to restore families and individuals because He is a family God. 

 

BLACK BREATH

Stop and think, Dear Christian, about the power of your tongue,
Do your words come rushing out on the winds of darkened lungs.
Is your mouth an orifice of poison, shaped by a hardened heart,
Nothing but filth and slander will its wicked words impart.

Does black breath come billowing out and lay a blanket of sin,
Its victims will surely be smothered beneath the clanging din.
Your tongue has such awesome power to deliver life and liberty,
Or to choose destruction and death, it’s your choice, my friend, do you see.

Sticks and stones do break bones and by names will a soul you alter,
But take heed, judgement I plea will boomerang and you will falter.
What’s in the well will come up, in buckets it satisfies,
The real condition of ones own heart, and the truth it will not belie.

Sometimes you stretch the truth and hide behind white lies,
Surely you think it won’t matter but it’s God you do defy.
Are your words a healing balm that the scales of mercy tip,
Or is your tongue a tool that scars like a razor sharpened whip.

Do you fling your arrows of resentment, wrath, and pain,
Truly no good will come of it and satisfaction you will not gain.
When you lay down a gauntlet of barbed words that jab and snare,
You then become the recipient and God’s judgement will lay you bare.

Words are mighty weapons, by degrees they wound and maim,
Or they empower and build up, so speak truth wisely in Jesus’ name.
Connect, dissect, confuse, confirm, discern, or disagree,
Castigate, obliterate, or blow to smitherenes.

Affirm, deny, denounce, defend, applaud, reject, or jest,
Make up your mind, do it now, will you curse or simply bless.
Innocent innuendos laced with niceties,
Lacking in sincerity, such verbal atrocities.

Woven webs of deception, the trashing of truth corrupts,
A language devoid of compassion will likely render one bankrupt.
Manipulated madness, criticism that condems,
Gossip only vilifies, whispers and lies, what then.

With the mouth you vomit hypocrisy and spawn the ground of hate.
You spew such words of jugement, please stop, it’s not too late.
Every time you speak such shame it’s the Lord you crucify,
The nails drive deeper by your words and once again He dies.

Say what you mean and mean what you say, this is integrity at its best,
Put to death once and for all, the cyanide of black breath.
Clean out your heart with God’s righteousness, let your speech reflect His love,
Send up the glory due Him as you worship the King from above.

Oh, Dear Lord, arise in me, by Your grace let the honey flow,
Give me Your language, I Thee pray, I’m Your witness wherever I go.
May my speech be ever so lovely, a sweet melody in your ears,
It’s my honor to give You the glory the remainder of all my years.

Love in Jesus,

Nancy Slocum
“A pen in God’s hand giving LOVE a voice”
The Bellows of God
http://Nancy777.com

Prayer Power

Lord God Almighty,  By the power of Your Holy Spirit, help us to put a guard over our mouth so the words that we speak will bless and edify all those in the sound of our voice. At the same time, we desire that they bring honor and glory to You, in  Jesus name. Amen