BY JESSICA LANDMON
Being surrounded by all this technology, it was bound to happen. My daughter accidentally texted her friends a seven-minute audio of her and I talking. Once she realized she had done so, pure panic overcame the both of us. At that moment, all we could think about was what we may have been talking about. Did we talk about something personal or did we say something that could embarrass us? I think it’s safe to say that we all would react in a similar manner.
But this silly mistake got me thinking further about my words and all the conversations that I participate in. Obviously, they are not all accidentally recorded, but would I be concerned to learn that someone I didn’t intend to listen overheard me? More importantly, do all the words that come from my mouth honor God?
The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences. – Proverbs 18:21
Yikes! That’s a harsh warning. The words that come from our mouths have the power to bring life or death. Yes, our words have power. And with that, we choose what kind of impact our words will have.
But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned. – Matthew 12:36-37
Ladies, I want you to think about the conversations that you have participated in in the last 24 hours. If they were accidentally recorded and played on social media for all your friends to hear, would you be concerned? Would you be ashamed? Obviously, this likely won’t happen, but the fact is that God is always listening. And He says that someday we will all give account for each and every word that leaves our mouth.
I don’t know about you, but I want to use my words for good. I want to be the kind of woman who builds others up and doesn’t waste her words on negativity, criticism, sarcasm or gossip. I want to be a woman who watches her words and uses them to glorify God, whether I’m being recorded or not.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. – Psalm 19:14