There is life and death in the tongue

The old saying, “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never harm me” is so untrue. Negative words that are spoken to somebody can inflict deep wounds and do more damage to them than physical blows. Negative words that are spoken to someone can be something one carries with them the rest of their life. The words we speak to our spouse, children, and family members can wound them for life, it can affect the way they live their life and the way they treat their future family members. Proverbs 18:21 says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” Our words hold the power of life and death according to this verse, so we must be careful what we speak.

You were called to bless and not tear down. 1 Peter 3:9 says, “Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.” What are we told to do in this scripture, do not repay evil for evil, or, insult for insult; instead we are to bless, in fact, it says we are called to bless. What does it mean to bless? To make whole or holy by spoken words, to ask divine favor, to wish a person or situation well, to make prosperous, to make happy or glad. When a person puts this scripture into practice more blessings will pour from their lips than curses and then we are told we will inherit a blessing.