The Power of Your Words: Choosing Life with Every Thought

Did you know your words have the power to bring life or death to those who hear them? And guess what—you're one of the people who hears what you say. What you speak out loud has an impact, not just on others but on yourself as well.

But before words are ever spoken, they begin as thoughts. That's why getting our thoughts in the right place is so important. Your thoughts shape your words, and ultimately, your words shape your life and the lives of those around you.

Stick around to the end of this blog because I have a life-changing exercise that will help you transform your thoughts and set you up to speak words that bring life.

Aligning Your Thoughts with Truth

The Bible offers powerful guidance when it comes to managing our thoughts. One of the most practical verses is Philippians 4:8:

"And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise."

When we align our thoughts with what is true, honorable, and praiseworthy, we set ourselves up to speak in ways that reflect those values. To help you keep your words in check, I want to share a popular acronym: THINK.

What Does THINK Stand For?

• T – True:
  Is what you're about to say true?
  Jesus said in John 8:32, "Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." Speaking truth brings freedom, both to yourself and to others.
• H – Honorable:
  Is it honorable?
  Romans 12:10 encourages us to, "Honor one another above yourselves." Honor isn't just about being respectful; it's about treating others with dignity and esteem.
• I – Inspiring:
  Is it inspiring?
  In Ephesians 4:29, Paul advises, "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up." Our words should encourage and uplift.
• N – Necessary:
  Is it necessary?
  Proverbs is full of wisdom on this. Proverbs 17:27 reminds us, "The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint." Sometimes, fewer words are better, and knowing when to speak is a sign of wisdom.
• K – Kind:
  Is it kind?
  Ephesians 4:15 tells us to "Speak the truth in love." Even hard truths should be delivered with kindness and love.

Choose Life with Your Words

Our words have incredible power—power to build up or tear down, encourage or discourage, bring life or death. But it all starts with our thoughts. Let's be intentional about fixing our thoughts on what is true, honorable, and worthy of praise so we can speak words that bring life and reflect the love of God.

The next time you're about to speak, remember to THINK and choose life with your words!

The Life-Changing Exercise

Now that we've broken down how to THINK before we speak, here's a simple but transformative exercise:

1. Pause Before You Speak: Take a few seconds to run your thoughts through the THINK filter. Ask yourself, "Is this true, helpful, inspiring, necessary, and kind?"
2. Capture Negative Thoughts: If you find yourself thinking or wanting to say something negative, stop. Replace it with a thought or word that aligns with the principles in Philippians 4:8.
3. Speak Life: Choose words that build others up and reflect truth, kindness, and love. Remember, the words you speak have the power to bring life or death, not only to others but also to yourself.

Exercise -   What are you thinking about?

Take a piece of paper and draw a line down the middle.   On the left side, write My Thought or Thoughts. On the right side, write down My Transformed Thoughts.  

Write down one thought that has been consuming your mind.  

Example:

I am rejected by people who should love me. (LLet'sgo big or go home)

I doubt I will ever really succeed at what I'm doing. 

Nobody really cares about what I'm going through.

This is so hard. 

I can't change; I just am who I am.

Now go to Google or ChatGPT and ask for verses with what you are struggling with.   

Give me ten verses about not being rejected, and you will get something like this…..

John 6:37
"All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away."

Romans 8:1

"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."

Isaiah 41:9-10

"I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, 'You are my servant'; I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God."

Ephesians 1:5-6

"he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves."

Deuteronomy 31:6

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."

Psalm 94:14

"For the Lord will not reject his people; he will never forsake his inheritance."

2 Corinthians 4:8-9

"We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed."

Hebrews 13:5

"Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ''Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.''

1 Peter 2:9-10

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."

Romans 8:38-39

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

These verses provide reassurance that we are fully accepted in Christ and will not be rejected by God.

Now, on the right side of the page, write down the truth about what God's word says.

In Christ, I am fully accepted and will not be rejected by God.   

Go back and draw a line through your thought on the left to symbolize canceling it out.  

Write the new thought on a Post-it Note and put it on your mirror, in your car, or as a screensaver—all the places that will remind you of the truth.  

The next day or a week later, take another thought. Eventually, you will see your thoughts transform, and you will live out Philippians 4:8.