A word fitly (spoken at the right time) spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver – Proverbs 25:11

Each of us possesses gifts and abilities that God has given us. As Jesus illustrated in the parable of the talents. God expects us to develop and use these gifts and abilities to bless others. The Bible says we are to expect an increase of our talents as we us them.

We have gifts and talents we often overlook or take for granted some of the gifts and abilities we have. For example, most of us have the gift of speech, and we should thank God for the ability to speak. It’s shameful, however, how much the God-given gift of speech has been perverted and wasted by the wrong kind of talking. For instance, much speech is wasted in gossiping and backbiting. The Word of God has expressly forbids us to engage in such unprofitable and ungodly speech (Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge – James 4:11). We shouldn’t allow our words to be trash that enters someone else’s ears.

Much speech is also wasted in speaking doubt and defeat to ourselves or to someone else. Words have an effect on both the speaker and the hearer, and words can be agents of destruction or healing. For example, you can talk yourself into defeat, or you can talk yourself into success. In the same manner, we can use or pervert our ability to speak by tearing a person to shreds, thereby robbing him or her of their self-esteem. Or by our words we can build a person up and make him or her believe they are conquerors and champions in life. Words can create in a person a desire to succeed or they can lead them into the pit of failure.

Our gift of speech was designed by God to be used to bless, help, and encourage others and to bring God glory. The Word of God specifically admonishes us to use our speech to minister grace and blessings to others (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). We should choose our words carefully when we’re speaking to ourselves as well as others. Words are more powerful than what people realize, words are actions and they bring forth a manifestation of what has been spoken whether it brings life or death. When our words line up with God’s Words it brings life, but when we speak anything opposite of what God has spoken, it brings forth death. For example, when you wake up in the morning, you can say, “What a beautiful day this is” or you can say, “What a lousy day”. Throughout the day you will experience difficulties because you have spoken your destiny for that day. Rather than speaking negatively, when you wake up you can say, “This is the day that the Lord has made and I will rejoice and be glad in it”. Or,  “I can do all things through Christ which strengthened  me”.

When we speak, we need to take time and listen to what we’re speaking into our life.