You know what, I can still remember the first time I intentionally said a cuss word. It was probably around 3rd grade. I remember lying there in my living room floor. It actually took me a while to do it. Once I decided to say it, I tried to say it, but the word just wouldn’t come out. My conscience wouldn’t let me. But I was determined to do it. So, I tried again, but the again word wouldn’t actually come out. But I wasn’t giving up. So I tried and tried and tried a few more times until I actually said that cuss word. That word finally came out of my mouth. And I couldn’t wait to proudly tell my older friend who lived across the road that I had finally said a cuss word. And from there it grew. Look, I’m neither a sailor nor the son of one, but when I was an older child and especially a teenager, you might have wondered if I was.

But then I met Jesus when I was 17yo, and that began to change. As He became Lord of my life, He became Lord of my mouth. You see, the Holy Spirit says in Ephesians 4:29, “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” Every Christian should take this verse to heart and heed it. We should strive to let no corrupting talk come out of our mouths.

But it’s important for us to realize that corrupting talk is not just those 4-letter cuss words. It’s also words that tear others down, that encourage others to sin, or are not fitting for the occasion or company. Words that hurt others like name-calling, insulting, and sarcasm. Or words that unnecessarily puff people up, like flattery. Or words that are vulgar or course. Or words that should be kept to yourself, like gossip. These are all corrupting words, and we should not allow them to come out of our mouth.

Beloved, words are powerful. Use them for good. Therefore, use that which is holy.

Change begins in you!