“Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.”
—Colossians 4:6

The Bible says that our tongues are like the rudder of a huge ship. The ship may be massive, but it is only a small rudder in the very back that determines what direction the ship will go. Our tongues are the same way. Our bodies are big, but our little tongues literally determine the course of our lives.

One of the most significant things you can do to move into greater spiritual power in your life and abide in Jesus in a deeper way is to control your mouth. How do we do that? The Bible says, “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear” (Eph. 4:29). That means we must avoid saying negative things about people and circumstances whenever possible.

We can’t always avoid having negative thoughts about a person, and sometimes we want to complain about a situation we are facing. I have found that nine times out of ten, it’s unprofitable to make that negative comment. The better thing to do is just keep our mouths shut if we don’t have anything good to say.

Back in the 1980s, I pastored a church that held a talent show on the last day of every month. Anybody in the congregation could get up and sing a song or play an instrument, and it was always such a beautiful time of fellowship. One night I was driving home from one of the talent shows, basking in the presence of the Lord, and then I spoke a negative word about one of the participants. As soon as I did, the peace and sense of God’s presence that I had been feeling completely left me.

That’s what speaking negatively will do. So guard your tongue, because from it flow the issues of life (Prov. 4:23). Beloved, let’s use our words to build people up. Doing this one thing truly will empower you in a remarkable way. Anybody can be negative; it takes God’s zōē (uncreated, supernatural life) to be positive and bring the kingdom of God into the spiritual darkness.

Father God, help me to guard my words. I want to use my mouth to lift others up and not tear people down. I want to bring Your kingdom to bear wherever I am.

Rabbi Kirt A. Schneider, Rivers of Divine Truth (Lake Mary, FL: Charisma House, 2021), Used by permission.