“The Lord God has given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary. He awakens me morning by morning, He awakens my ear to hear as the learned.”- Isaiah 50:4

Having learnt how powerful the tongue is, it is important to understand the purpose of the power placed in it. As Christians, one of the core purposes of the power residing in our tongues is to use our words to build up the lives and current situations of others.

The prophet Isaiah clearly understood why God placed the power of life and death in our tongues. As we see in today’s anchor scripture, our tongues are meant to give strength to the weary, edify one another, and bless lives with the words that flow from us.

No wonder Paul emphasized in Colossians 4:6: “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.”

This applies even to those who might stand against us. Our words should always be seasoned with grace—no matter the circumstances. Even when hurtful words are thrown at us, our response must still reflect grace. Emphasis on the word always—meaning, at all times! With such power in our tongues, we have the ability to help people in ways we often cannot imagine.

Many times, we believe the only way to assist others is through financial support. While that is important, the words we speak and the blessings we share through our tongues go a long way as well.

You may never know how a simple word of encouragement could stir up a person on the verge of giving up or how your words of life could help save a soul contemplating suicide.

In our tongues resides the power of life and death. Let this truth remain at the forefront of our minds, always.

Prayer: Lord teach me to build people up with my words.