“If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil.” 1 Peter 3:10 NLT

Your tongue has creative power. If you doubt that, criticize someone and observe the look on their face and their response. Now try complimenting them and observe the look on their face and their response. But let’s not just talk about the effect your words have on others but what they have on you. The Bible says when you use your tongue to do good, you “enjoy life and see many happy days.” Jesus gave us a powerful illustration of this: “Whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says” (Mark 11:23 NKJV). What did Jesus mean? That you can talk about your problem or talk to the great problem solver about your problem. You can complain about it or pray about it. You can discuss it from a human perspective, focusing on all its complications, or discuss it from a divine perspective, focusing on God’s power to change the circumstances. You can reinforce your sense of discouragement and despair by saying things like, “The problem is too big, and nothing can be done about it.” Or you can give the problem to God and say, “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us” (Ephesians 3:20 NKJV). When you say that, you’re not only using the creative power of God’s Word, you’re using your tongue the right way.

The Word for You Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from Celebration Enterprises, Inc. Copyright © 2024