What does it mean to speak life?

Answer

Many Christians have never considered the incredible impact their words can have on other people. God created us to be expressive beings, and the Bible tells us that our words hold the power of life and death, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: And they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.”, (Proverbs 18:21). Encouragement often comes through spoken words. So does discouragement. “Reckless words pierce like a sword” “There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: But the tongue of the wise is health.”, (Proverbs 12:18), but “how good is a timely word!” “A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: And a word spoken in due season, how good is it!”, (Proverbs 15:23). To speak life is to be a person of encouragement, edification, and blessing to others through what you say.

Proverbs 10:11 says that “the mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life.” How can we, as followers of Christ, learn to harness our words so that we speak life to those we love and to the lost and dying people of this world?

Proverbs 18:20–21 states, “From the fruit of their mouth a person’s stomach is filled; with the harvest of their lips they are satisfied. The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” This passage figuratively refers to words as “the fruit of the mouth,” which in other passages are “the fruit of the lips” (Proverbs 12:14;Proverbs 13:2). The harvest of our words can either bring the benefits of life or the detriments of destruction and death. In verse 21, “those who”Love it [the tongue]” refers to people who talk excessively. “Too much talk leads to sin” “In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: But he that refraineth his lips is wise.”, (Proverbs 10:19, NLT), and these individuals will face the consequences of their words.

Those who aim to speak life understand that our words have repercussions. When a witness testifies in court, their words can determine whether a defendant lives or dies. Our words can impact the emotional and spiritual well-being of those we care for. We should carefully consider our words because they can either build up or destroy our relationships, families, friendships, churches, and ministries. Are we uplifting our children, spouses, and loved ones with our words, or are we tearing them down? Are we instilling hope or crushing spirits? Proverbs 15:4 states, “The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.”

Jesus reminds us that our words stem from our hearts: “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matthew 12:34-37;ESV). Careless words are spoken thoughtlessly, but they are heard in heaven. If we do not mean it, we should not say it.

The words we utter are significant as they reveal the state of our hearts. At times, our words can be our own worst enemy. A critical heart will utter disparaging words; a bitter heart, hurtful words; a self-righteous heart, judgmental words; a thankless heart, words of complaint. Conversely, a loving heart will speak words of encouragement.

Uplifting words; a contented heart, words of faith; a humble heart, words of acceptance; a joy-filled heart, grateful words. Love, contentment, humility, and joy—these qualities within ourselves will help us speak life to others.

Believers are wise to consider the costly outcome of their spoken words. Hurtful words of criticism, defeat, hatred, failure, negativity, and hopelessness will eventually produce death. The apostle Paul cautions us to speak only words that will benefit others: “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen” «Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. », (Ephesians 4:29).

To speak life means to give words of hope, encouragement, edification, support, and love. When you “let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone” «Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man. », (Colossians 4:6), you are speaking life. Dr. Greg Smalley gives five ways to speak life into someone: speak words of praise, words of gratitude, words of validation, words of honor, and words of encouragement (quoted by Abby Lewis, “5 Ways to Speak Life Into Someone,” www.belovegivelove.com/5-ways-to-speak-life-into-someone, accessed 4/15/20).

When someone says, through words or actions, “I feel worthless,” “I don’t know why God made me,” “No one cares,” or “I hate my life,” we have a golden opportunity to speak life into that person. We can follow the example of our Savior and proclaim good news to the poor, liberty to captives, recovery of sight to the blind, an

Grant freedom to the oppressed « The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, Because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; He hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, And recovering of sight to the blind, To set at liberty them that are bruised, », (Luke 4:18). We can speak life and hope to this world.