“Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. “
Ephesians 4:29

I can remember a certain season of my life . . . let’s call it “Middle School” when I struggled with talking back to my mom. Almost every day when she would drop me off at school her final words to me were, “When you get back in this car you better have a serious attitude adjustment”. I don’t know why it is that when you become a teenager it’s almost pre-programmed in you to adopt “abusive” language.

Suddenly, you begin thinking that you know more than your parents and since you are now 13 you have become an adult and can start making your own decisions about your life; therefore, you begin to speak that truth to your parents in the worst way possible. I know my family was so thankful when I grew out of that season and began to remember that I was raised to respect my parents with my words and actions.

Sadly, it’s not just teenagers that struggle with this type of language. Paul saw something happening in Ephesus that he knew needed to be addressed. He was writing to encourage them in their faith, but also to help them become more Christ-like. In Ephesians 4:29 he writes, “Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.”

Paul sets the standard for Christ-like speech. Everything we say should be good and it should encourage those who hear it. How many times a day do you hear people speaking in such a way that it tears down someone else, discouraging them, or leading them to anger? How many times a day do you hear people using foul language and taking the Lord’s name in vain? How many times is that person you?

The tongue is one of the most powerful muscles in the body and one of the hardest to control. Paul was not the only one that God inspired to give us instruction on how to use it.

       “A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare.” Proverbs 15:1

“Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.“ Colossians 4:6

“but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right!”  James 3:8-10

These are only a few of the numerous times God’s word instructs us on how to use our words. We are to speak to people in a way that they would see Christ in us. We should be encouraging those around us, building them up with the truth of God’s word. It’s hard when we are tired, or frustrated to always choose encouraging words, but that is when we have to rely on the power of the Holy Spirit to do something in us that we can’t do on our own.

Proverbs 18:21 says, “The tongue can bring death or life”. When we speak to someone we are either bringing life or death with our words. It’s not something that we should take lightly. We speak so many words every day that it’s hard sometimes to take the time to really think about what it is we are saying.

I would encourage you to think about a person or an atmosphere that typically brings out foul or abusive language from your lips. Begin to pray that God would give you power through His Holy Spirit to transform your speech so that you would be able to speak life into all those you encounter today.

April Brazelton

Lean into Jesus Ministries

#aprilbrazeltonblogs