“Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice” (Ephesians 4:31)
Anger, bitterness, and malice (ill will or desire to injure another) result in evil speaking. Evil speaking can hurt or destroy another. “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” (Proverbs 18:21) On the other hand, "Words fitly spoken are like apples of gold in pictures of silver." (Proverbs 25:11) Kind and graceful words heal and build up and strengthen. The words we speak represent what we love. If we love life, we will speak helpful, healing, life-giving words. If we speak words that hurt or tear down others or even words that might destroy others, we love death.
Lord, help me to pay attention to the words that come out of my mouth. They will show what my heart is really like. If my words are not loving or helpful, then they are hurtful and hurtfulness is in my heart. Lord, help me to know Your love and to love You so that I can love others with my words!
Turn Again to the Lord