Living in Increase (Part 11) - Increase in JoyÀpẹrẹ

Build Me Up

Yesterday, we learned that thinking about things we are grateful for can help us have a positive attitude. What we think directly affects what we say, and there is power in the tongue. The Bible says death and life are in the power of the tongue (Proverbs 18:21), which means how we speak to others impacts them. Will it damage them or build them up? Will how we speak affect us, too?

The short answer is yes. Proverbs 11:17 says, “Your own soul is nourished when you are kind, but you destroy yourself when you are cruel.”

Have you ever heard the quote, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all”? Most parents say this to their children at some point, which is mostly good advice.

A positive attitude will be hard to obtain if corrupt speech rules our tongues (sarcasm, insults, gossip, name-calling, cursing). Furthermore, we destroy ourselves when we are cruel. When we speak kindly and gently with wisdom and encouragement, we bring positivity and grace to others and ourselves.

Monica Barnes

Action Step: Say something nice to someone you wouldn’t usually talk to. It will bless you both with a positive attitude and increase your joy!