James 3:5b-12 See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell.
For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race. But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way.

Words that harm and words that heal. We have the ability to do both, you know. With a word we can cause a child to soar in belief that all things are possible, and with a different word said at the wrong time we can crush the creativity and destroy the soul. I wish I could take it back, that word or action or that negative feeling directed toward another person. The problem we face, however, is that once said or acted upon there is no taking back the consequences of our actions.

I was entering the seventh grade when I remember my first real negative words of despair. My seventh grade basketball coach said to me, “Jenkins, you will never amount to anything; in fact, you won’t even graduate out of high school.” I was devastated to say the least. I lost hope and actually believed him for a while.

It was words of hope, however, that brought me out of that slump, words that said I believe in you. Those words still ring true in my life. Every time I listen to the words of despair, I am reminded that God loves me and believes in me. His words do not lie.

Think about it, you have the power to heal and the power to harm. Which words will we choose?

Prayer: Father, teach me to control my tongue.