James 3:6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life,and set on fire by hell."Sticks and Stones may break my bones, but words shall never hurt me."
"Sticks and Stones" is an English language children's rhyme. The rhyme persuades the child victim of name-calling to ignore the taunt, to refrain from physical retaliation, and to remain calm and good-natured.
It is reported to have appeared in The Christian Recorder of March 1862, a publication of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, where it is presented as an "old adage" in this form: Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never break me.
1 Peter 3:9-11 Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Our words can be filled with love, joy, happiness and blessing or they can be filled with sarcasm, unbelief, all kinds of negativity, and even hate. Words can curse and words can bless. Words can encourage and bring life. Words can discourage and bring death.
The words that you hear linger with you. Biting, stinging, hurtful words we speak to our wife, husband, or children as they leave the house in the morning can rob them all through the day. Loving and tender words of encouragement can linger too, and keep them encouraged all through the day and bring them to victory.
Ephesians 5:4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.
The same thing is true spiritually. Words, spoken words, written words, even words set to music are more powerful than we may realize. And what you hear will linger and creep into your spirit. If you are surrounding yourself with words of doubt, fear, defeat, and failure, you’re believing will start moving in that direction. So will your life spiritually and carnally.
Romans 10:17 says, Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. If I will keep hearing what God’s Word says, if I will keep reading what God’s Word says, faith is promised: Faith comes. Listen to me. Satan didn’t use some magic spell. He didn’t tie Eve to a tree and force her to eat of that tree. Man fell because of WORDS! Satan did not deny God or his power. He used words of untruthful speech to sway their thoughts.
What are we speaking ? Are we speaking our words from a well-spring of wisdom; the Bible? Are we speaking words of contention that bring destruction and a snare to our soul?
What are we giving our ears to? The Bible says if we give our ears to God’s Word faith comes. I can tell you when faith comes, victory comes. If you listen to the world doubt comes, and when doubt comes defeat comes.
Satan at no time took away Eve’s power of choice and he hasn’t taken away ours. We can choose to hear the Lord's word and be a help, and speak words of encouragement to our brothers and sisters. Or we can choose to listen to the world and give the things of the world precedence over the things of God and the lost who are watching us. We cannot choose if we live by words or not, but we can choose what words we will live by.
Jesus said, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God."
What will you do with your words? Will you lift others up with loving and caring speech? Or will you respond with hateful words, or words of gossip?
Matthew 12:36 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak.
May You Be Blessed With Peace and Understanding
