Words of Life and Words of Death

I don't know why, but these things need to be said today. This is a heavy post, so be ready.

Prov 18:21
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.
NASU

Those who love to talk will experience the consequences, for the tongue can kill or nourish life. NLT

Oh how I have been in a place where I left my tongue loose. Out of my mouth shot the words of death and they were sucessful in their mission. I watched as the light of life disappeared. I felt vindicated, avenged, even. They needed to know my hurt, they needed to know I was right. The death I caused met no immediate resistance and that made it easy to look the other direction and stride away. Even if that death I caused would have met resistance, I was callused with hurt, my words were focused to cause death. The path leading away would still be worn from my footsteps. Those relationships that met with those deadly words were left behind for dead.
Shameful. How easy to speak the words of death. The words that bring death do just that, bring death. Not only for the person hearing, but for the person sending those words on their mission. I praise God for the forgiving hearts He placed in those that suffered death from my mouth. How undeserving I am.

This proverbs verse just made me think about things from my past. How we are to be responsible for what we say. Responsible even if we are knowingly or unknowingly hurting with our words. The strength of words is amazing. God SPOKE the worlds into existence. His words are strong enough to CREATE something out of nothing.

I pray that we all use the words of life. To build, savor, recover, strengthen, petition, encourage, love, and nourish one another.