Sunday, March 2, 2025
Proverbs 18:21
The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.
Is your tongue bringing death or life to your relationships?
When we are under pressure and allow our temperaments to remain unfiltered, it can lead to a place where our words become weapons.
Weaponized words can be used against others or directed at us. Whichever direction the words are flowing, harmful and hurtful words can leave lasting negative consequences.
Understanding how you are wired gives you the awareness to filter your words, making you both less offendable and less likely to offend others.
How do we do this?
Take a moment to ask God to help you identify the unresolved places in your heart that are impacting your relationships. Listen to him for guidance, and get curious about any next step he is inviting you to take toward healing.
Discussion Questions:
Ice breaker: Share a time when you responded to a verbal attack with the old rhyme “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me.”
What unresolved sin may cause people to change their words into weapons?
Read Matthew 12:33-37. What do you hear Jesus saying about our hearts in this verse? How does he describe the way our words flow from the health of our hearts?
What are some practical ways you can work on disarming your words toward others?
How can you use what you now know about your temperament to respond differently to words that are harmful or hurtful?
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for caring deeply about my heart. I come to you today asking for your help identifying any unresolved issues I have been carrying around that are impacting my relationships. Help me heal these places to make room for only helpful words. Words that bring life, not death, to others. I love you, I trust you, and I worship you, amen.
Series Theme Verse:
Ephesians 4:29
Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.
This post was written by Lori Tuckerman, Director of Content for the LivingItOut Devotional.