“On the day of judgment people will have to account for every careless word they speak. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”
– Jesus

Of all the things I may regret, my spoken words are probably at the top of the list. We all say things at times we wish we could take back, and those words could quite possibly change the course of a life.

And of all the things I remember, the spoken word – whether kind or harsh, comes to my mind the most. It’s personal. We easily forget what we read in books and memories fade, but the spoken word stays with us the longest. It reaches our soul. It can ruin a person’s career and it can save a person’s life.  Most of the time, we are not even aware of the impression our words have on others.

  Matthew 12:33-37 ~ Careless words  

Jesus said, “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. Brood of vipers! How can you speak good things when you are evil? For the mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart. A good man produces good things from his storeroom of good, and an evil man produces evil things from his storeroom of evil. I tell you that on the day of judgment people will have to account for every careless word they speak. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

I do not want to be careless – with life, with people, with money, with gratitude, or with the words I speak.  Jesus, I pray that your spirit will always give me the right words to say.

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About the Author

Sue McCusker is a writer, Bible teacher, and web developer who loves to share the stories of life, hope, and faith she sees around her every day. She has written for Guideposts and  Angels on Earth magazines, and teaches the story of God in women's Bible study.

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