“Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful” (1 Cor. 4:2, NKJV).
Have you ever thought of your words as a resource? They are. They are one of the most valuable resources God has entrusted to us. They have the potential to impact this world maybe even more than the finances He has put into our hands for sowing into His Kingdom.
The words we speak have the potential to impart the very life of God to each person we meet. They can make all the difference in a hurting friend’s day. They shape our children. They shift atmospheres. Sometimes just one sentence can alter an individual’s destiny. Sometimes just one word can change a person’s life for all of eternity.
As with each kind of resource that God entrusts to us, we are called to be good stewards of our spoken words. In His great love for us, Jesus brought our attention to this solemn consideration: “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment” (Matt. 12:36, NKJV).
For every resource He has committed to our stewardship, we will give account to Him at the end of our lives. I am not afraid of that moment because I know that the One to whom we must give account is not only merciful, but He is love. The intense eyes of fire that will probe the depths of our souls in those moments are eyes of love.
For this very reason, I long to be able to give account to Him of faithful stewardship. He loved me first – oh such love! I love Him back. In my deep gratitude for the way He loves me, this longing bursts forth out of my spirit: “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord…” (Ps. 19:14, NLT).
I want the contents of my heart and their overflow out of my mouth to bring joy to His soul. Do you long for that too? You know, researchers say that, on average, between 6,000 to 16,000 words flow out of our mouths per day. In a year, that comes to about 3,650,000. Boy, those are a bunch of words to steward well. And boy are those a lot of opportunities to bring Jesus’ life into this world!
May we live our lives with deep devotion to Him in the way we choose our sentences. May those millions of syllables coming out of us rejoice His ears and His heart, for the way they bring His light into the world around us. And when that final day comes, may the ecstatic utterance overflow out of His heart to ours, “Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into your Master’s joy!” (Matt. 25:23).
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Can you recall a time when one sentence spoken to you made an enormous difference in your life?
Feeding On Jesus 
Thanks for encouraging us to use the right words at the right time. I heard years ago that the 500 most used words in the English language have over 5,000 different interpretations and nuances. Words chosen wisely make a difference.
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What a fascinating observation! Thank you so much for sharing that, Grant. I highly value your contribution here 🙂
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Jennifer, it is so true what you said about words. Our idle words can come and bite us. Carefully. chosen words, change ;ives. Job 22:28 “Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways.”
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I grew up being very shy. To tackle that problem as an adult, I have spent the last 40 years purposefully engaging total strangers when the opportunity presents itself. By presenting itself, I mean someone is gassing up their car nearby or standing in front or behind me in a checkout line…or just someone with a fishing t-shirt
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That is so, SO good that you have put so much heart into connecting with others, going outside of your comfort zone! I can feel the Father’s loving, joyful smile on your desire to make a difference in that way, and all you have put into doing so.
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I absolutely love that verse! Thank you, Hazel, for sharing it here. Much love to you.
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❤️❤️❤️ You’re welcome, Jennifer!
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Jennifer, may words are a huge part of my prayers each day, not just the spoken ones. I “plead the blood of Jesus” over my mouth, my voice, my face, my hands, my cell phone, my laptop, anything I write with, anything I write ON, what I wear (t-shirts with Christian messages, etc), and what I share (things other people have written that I pass on).
I pray the enemy can’t highjack one word coming from me, spoken, written, sung, prayed, worn, shared, – past, present, or future.
I pray my words will be used to make believers out of unbelievers, and that they’ll be used to minister to believers – to comfort, reassure, encourage, strengthen, remind, restore, heal, interest, stimulate, motivate, enlighten, teach, explain, clarify, establish, confirm, challenge, and inspire. (Yes, I’m a bit OCD. 😉 ) And even though it may not be in my nature, if the situation calls for it and I’m the one the Lord wants to use, that He will use my words to confront, convict, correct, rebuke, and/or warn.
The power of words is huge, and that truth is both terrifying and exciting.
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Annie, I absolutely LOVE what you have shared here! What a POWERFUL way to pray! Thank you so much for sharing this in detail, I am blessed in spirit reading it. I know this brings so much pleasure to the Father’s heart!
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Yep, as I have shared, I can be a little O. C. D. 😏Gotta cover all the bases.. 🙄
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Thoroughness is good!
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Oops. MY words, not “may words.” (*eye roll*)
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I understood what you meant 😉
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Words we speak are so important… It may be only a few words but it does make a difference. We can encourage, offer kindness or respect with what we speak and without knowing it, be making a difference in someone’s life when they really need it.
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This is so wonderfully true! Also I am thinking of the verse in Eccl, “Let your words be few.” Seems like sometimes, just a few words are the best thing for someone at a given moment, as opposed to a lot of words. Thank you so much for these thoughts.
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Yes, I do!! One of my love languages is words of affirmation. 😊
Thank you for this beautiful reminder and charge to steward our words well.
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Truly my pleasure, my dear sister! And that’s another thing we have in common — that’s one of mine as well!
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My whole ministry, such as it is, is stringing together words that rhyme into five-line stanzas, hoping they are used by the Holy Spirit to quicken someone’s heart. But have to temper my words interacting with other bloggers. I thank God I don’t have to do it alone! Indeed, there is forgiveness and mercy in His eyes and thus in my heart. Bless His holy Name!
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“And lo I am with you always, even to the ends of the earth!” May He anoint the words of your mouth to continue to bless, encourage, and inspire many lives for Him, Jonathan!
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Thank you Lord! Thanks, Sis! 😀 Even as He will with you!
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Amen, my brother!
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Amen!
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Blessings Jennifer! As believers, we are called to follow the teachings of our Savior Jesus with positive stewardship of our thoughtful words.
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Amen! It’s my longing that I would sound and speak like Him more and more 🙂
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At church this past Sunday I heard a beautiful way of describing the joy of sharing time with and helping others we may not know well: Time for a cup of coffee? Time to share the gospel.
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