Life or Death: the Power to ChooseSample

Day 3: Word Choice

“Speak your mind,” they said. “I just need to vent,” says the guy who wishes he could take it all back. I’ve learned that there are pros and cons for voicing an opinion and verbally expressing myself. I’ve learned many hard lessons as they relate to articulating every emotion in every conversation. The Bible encourages us to be quick to listen and slow to speak (James 1:19). The majority of my life has been living that verse in reverse. Common sense would conclude that having two ears and one mouth is a hint that we should listen twice as much as we speak. Historically, I have ignored that sentiment.

We all have words we wish we could take back. Not only words to and about other people, but words about ourselves. Freedom of speech is a blessing and a curse, depending on how we choose to utilize it. The health of our relationships hinges primarily on the life or death we choose to speak over them. In my life, I have failed to fully grasp the gravity of the spoken word. Obviously, in the literal sense, words cannot physically harm people. However, they can damage one’s spirit and wound one’s confidence when weaponized. Humble apologies are an underutilized craft but one in which I seem to have a Master’s Degree.

The rubber meets the road when we CHOOSE to understand the implications of our flesh over our spirit. Unfortunately, the unwise dialogue, under the umbrella of justified ‘venting,’ plagued my persona for years. Many of us use it as a justifying mechanism for purging our immediate emotions about a situation or topic. Proverbs 29:11 says “a fool vents all his feelings, but a wise man holds them back.” Our flesh flies off the handle, cuts without consideration, and degrades without discernment. Our spirit yields to wisdom and pauses before it pounces, is merciful before it is malicious, and soothes more than it scars. It’s never too late to apologize and ask forgiveness for harmful words. It’s never too late to make a different choice in those moments where we are tempted to wield our words like a sword. We always have a choice.

Get honest:

What can you do differently to choose better words?