The Words You Speak
Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. (James 3:5-6a)
The words you speak over your life matter.
I often read James 3:1-12 as a manual for how to speak to others, but I recently realized that I must embrace James’ instructions as a guide for how to speak to myself as well.
What does your mental soundtrack consist of? Do the lyrics of your life glorify God or disparage your identity in Christ? Is your speech destroying your life?
Accuracy over condemnation.
We all have shortcomings. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Having a healthy sense of self doesn’t mean tricking ourselves into only elevating the positive within ourselves or putting ourselves on a pedestal without a balanced sense of our strengths and weaknesses.
Instead, I believe that a healthy sense of self (indicated by the way we speak to ourselves both mentally and verbally) is built on accuracy. We must have an accurate sense of who we are in Christ. Yes, we all fall short of the glory of God but the passage goes on to say that we are justified freely by the redeeming grace of Jesus Christ (Romans 3:24). As believers, we must place our identity in the truth that we are loved, forgiven, free, cleansed, redeemed, and accepted into the family of God.
Our failures don’t make us who we are. Jesus makes us who we are. I love how the apostle Paul starts his letters by asserting his identity in Christ - a bondservant, an apostle, operating under the will of God according to the call of Christ. Throughout his letters, Paul doesn’t hide his broken past but instead uses it as a platform to exalt Christ’s work in his life. Paul’s past is a megaphone for the grace and power of Jesus Christ.
Do you use the broken parts of your story to berate yourself or to glorify Christ? Do you set fire to your life by speaking negatively to yourself, or do you use your speech to create a garden that bears the fruit of the Holy Spirit?
Our words have power.
In James 3:1-12, James discusses the power of our words. Take a second to read the passage.
James likens the tongue to a boat rudder. It is small but has the power to steer our whole lives. What direction are your words to yourself taking you in? Do the words you speak to yourself push you toward your God-given purpose, or away from your callings and assignments? The tongue is small like a spark, but the words it produces can quickly become a destructive forest fire tearing through our lives if left unchecked.
I often read James 3:1-12 as a manual for how to speak to others, which is true. But recently, I realized that I must embrace James’ instructions as a guide for how to speak to myself as well. So often I use my words to destroy myself rather than to build my identity in Christ. I am like the fig tree bearing olives (James 3:12) - blessing and praising God in one breath, and tearing myself His creation down in the next breath.
I often default to phrases like:
I’m not worthy.
I’m a failure.
Nobody likes me.
Nothing is going to work out for me.
These words destroy my life. They keep me chained to negativity, hopelessness, self-sabotage, and shame. They are a fire that seeks to burn away my incorruptible identity in Christ.
In reflecting on James 3:1-12, I want to encourage you and me to tame our tongues not only when we communicate with others but also when we speak to ourselves. Let’s take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ (II Corinthians 10:5). As you read your Bible, search for who you are in Christ. Allow the Word of God to tell you who you are and conform your self-talk to Scripture.
As you reflect on the way you speak to yourself, consider:
Are my words confirming my identity in Christ or condemning me?
Do my words bear the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, & self-control — Galatians 5:22-23) or do my words leave me in a dry, desolate headspace?
Are my words and thoughts true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, and praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8)?
Do my words honor the God in me, the One whose image I am made in?
Let’s begin speaking words over ourselves that reflect the goodness of God in our lives. Let’s practice rooting ourselves in our God-given identity as we allow the Holy Spirit to bear fruit in our self-talk. Let’s leave behind destructive words that set fire to our lives and lean into the words that set our souls on fire for more of God, more of His mission, and more of His presence. I’ll be practicing right along with you!
xx Elise Chanelle