Be Slow to Speak
The Power of a Controlled Tongue
As an overthinker, words have always carried a deep weight for me. When someone speaks, their words don’t just pass through my ears, they linger. I replay them, analyze them, and sometimes, they echo longer than they should. And I’ve learned through experience that words spoken in anger can pierce deeper than any physical wound. No matter how sincere the apology, the sting of those words often remains.
I wasn’t always mindful of my mouth or my emotions. There were seasons in my life when I was quick to respond, quick to defend, quick to lash out and it often left me feeling convicted afterward. I had to learn that just because I could say something didn’t mean I should. The Holy Spirit began to teach me that silence isn’t weakness; it’s wisdom.
The tongue, as Scripture reminds us, is “sharper than any two-edged sword.” Once spoken, words can’t be unsaid. They have the power to build or destroy, to heal or to wound. The phrase “What’s spoken in anger first lived in the heart” is such a sobering reminder. If bitterness, pride, or hurt is what’s in our hearts, it will eventually spill out through our mouths.
That’s why it’s so important to pause before speaking, to breathe, pray, and let God filter our emotions before our words ever leave our lips. Every time we choose silence over reaction, we are giving the Holy Spirit room to work. Every time we choose love over offense, we are reflecting Christ.
So today, let’s make it our intention to speak life. To be slow to speak, quick to listen, and even quicker to forgive. Because our words carry weight and they reveal what truly lives in our hearts.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for reminding me of the power that lies in my words. Help me to guard my tongue and control my emotions. When anger rises, calm my spirit. When frustration speaks, silence me until Your peace takes over. Create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me. Let my words always reflect Your love, grace, and truth.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen