I was once one of those people that spoke before I thought and I would use my words to try to hurt others or cover up my hurt. Everything that came out of my mouth had a funky smell to it. I only knew how to speak death into my life and the lives of others. It was always  something negative. I would talk about how my life was bad, how people treated me bad, how I was bad, and anything else that I could find to complain about. And if I was not complaining about something I was telling someone something wrong about themselves. I could make you feel two inches tall or have the blood boiling in your veins all by the words that I spoke. It was terrible.

I ended up discovering that I was speaking the way that I felt inside. Because I was filled with pain, anger, worthlessness, and negativity, that is the words that came out of my mouth. Because I was fearful of being hurt again I had built up a protection wall around my heart. And to protect my heart I had to keep people out. And the way to keep them out was to be mean to them with my words. That was a hard truth to face when God laid it on my heart and gave me a glimpse of what I was like.

I think that it is easy to forget about how our words can affect others and ourselves. We often let words fly out of our mouths before we think about what we are saying and then we end up regretting what we just said. Our words can build someone up or they can tear them down. We can lift ourselves up or we can break ourselves down by the words that we speak out of our mouths. It is amazing how much power such a small organ has. But the good thing is that we can control the words that come out of our mouths. We can choose to speak good, uplifting words that bring life to others and ourselves. We can make someones day better by speaking something kind to them. We can brighten our own day by the words that we choose to speak. I can feel rotten inside but still choose to speak kind words. I can feel gloomy but still speak uplifting, positive words. I can ask myself how I would want someone to talk to me and I can choose to talk to that person the way that I would want them to talk to me. We get to choose the words that come out of our mouths.

Once I started changing the words that I spoke I noticed that I was in a better overall mood and I was smiling a little more. I noticed that I was having less arguments and more good conversations with others. And I noticed that it felt good to give someone a compliment and make them smile. It has taken a long time to tame my tongue and I still have times that I speak before I think but I have came along way and my life is better because of it. Pay attention to the words that you speak and if they are positive or negative. If they are more negative then you can change them. If you want more joy in your heart choose to speak uplifting words to others and yourself. Think about what you are going to say before you say it. Choose to speak life into the lives of others and yourself.