There is nothing more powerful than words. By the word of God, everything was created: dry land, plants, the sun, moon, stars, fish, and animals. The apostle John described the Lord Jesus Christ as the Word who was with God in the beginning, and who was God. All things came into being through Him exclusively.

People were created in the image of God and God said that they should rule over creation (Genesis 1:26). As God saw everything He had made, He declared that it was very good.

God gave people a free-will to make choices but He also gave Adam one restriction on what he could do. Adam could eat from any tree in the garden except one. This should have been easy to obey but Adam and Eve were tricked by the deceitful words of Satan through a snake. The power of those words to cause Adam and Eve to disobey brought a curse on all of humanity. As a result of their sin, they were forced to leave the garden to work in a world where the work would be hard just to survive.

God warned Cain about his attitude, but ignoring God’s advice, he killed his brother Abel. So we are introduced to the reality that our actions and words have their root in our heart, the inner person, the spiritual being in a body. Jesus said

But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man. ¹⁹ For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders. ²⁰ These are the things which defile the man… (Matthew 18-20).

The solution for some seems to be that we just don’t open our mouth to speak. Proverbs 10:19 offers this wisdom: When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, But he who restrains his lips is wise.

When Solomon wrote the Book of Ecclesiastes, he suggests that we limit what we say: Do not be hasty in word or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter in the presence of God. For God is in heaven and you are on the earth; therefore let your words be few.

But the problem is not fixed by not speaking. The Bible teaches us to use words for good. We are to use words to teach, exhort, encourage, build up, and to warn. Such words will not come from an evil heart but from a heart that has been brought into submission to God’s will. When God becomes Lord and Master of a life, the words that proceed from that person will be very good.

Jesus said, If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ⁸ My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples (John 15: 7-8). May these words be true in your life.