Mind Your Word Count.

Did you know that one of the ways we open up our lives to the devil or give him a major inroad into our lives is when we talk too much? This has nothing to do with being quiet or noisy because there is the tendency to think that quiet people do not make this mistake, it has everything to do with saying just one word more than is required at a particular time or with regard to a particular issue. Just one more word than is required can turn either your life or another person’s life upside down.

Proverbs 10: 19 “Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut.”

There is no doubt that words have power and a creative ability. They create good or bad. A good word spoken when enough has already been said becomes one word too many and may do more harm than good. When we talk too much sometimes, we reveal things about ourselves that the devil did not know. Moreover, the bible counsels that a fool that does not talk too much may be thought to be wise. Eve in speaking too much as she responded to the serpent, revealed her ignorance and by so doing, armed him with the tool with which he attacked them. That is why we must think faster than we speak.

Proverbs 29: 20 “There is more hope for a fool than for someone who speaks without thinking

In a lot of instances, we talk too much because we feel the need to express our opinion. In my Country, we say “I must speak my mind.” In truth, you don’t always have to speak your mind. I am not by any means suggesting that you lie but you may choose to be quiet. It is of utmost importance that as a people led by the Spirit of God, we allow Him guide us as to when to speak, when to be quiet and also teach us to measure our words. It becomes more serious when we remember that the bible says the words we speak will be called up on judgment day.

Matthew 12: 36 “And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak. The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you.”

It is time to begin to measure or audit our words. We must think as we speak and be certain that we are not lured to say more than we should. One thing we must ask ourselves as we speak is this –“do I need to say what I am about to say?” Even if it is just for the purpose of reducing sin, it is worth it reducing the number of our words. Moreover, we end up wasting other peoples’ time and never learning ourselves when we always talk too much because we will not hear others.

James 1: 19 “You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.”

When people give us room to talk for as long as we want, it is good to ask ourselves sometimes – “do I really talk sensible things all the time though I talk so much or do the others just let me talk anyway, since I like to talk?” Before you answer, I want you to know that there must be at least one other person in the room that may also be able to talk some sensible things but would rather measure their words.