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

Be careful what you say, for the words you use have power.

It is important to remember that the words you speak matter. It matters when you gossip about your leaders. It matters when you affirm a person’s identity in Christ. It matters when you are critical. It matters when you choose to encourage.

The tongue holds the power of life and death. What kind of speech comes from yours? Are you quick to encourage, flatter, critique, or gossip? Pay attention to these habits.

Don’t disregard your words as powerless or unimportant, for they give you a key to the state of your heart. If you gravitate toward gossip and unhealthy conversation, your heart needs to be remedied, not simply your tongue.

The words you say directly parallel the storeroom of your heart. Take care to store good things inside by treasuring the Word and dwelling on righteousness.

Today, remember the power of your words and check the storeroom of your heart. Choose to bring life to others.

“A good man produces good out of the good storeroom of his heart. An evil man produces evil out of the evil storeroom, for his mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart” (Luke 6:45).