This sounds like a pretty easy decision to make when it comes to choosing death or life. Who in their right mind would choose death over life? Yet the Lord wanted to make sure things were very clear that we need to see things from a life or death perspective. He also wanted to make sure that we knew we had a choice. Moses instructed the people to choose life in Deut 31.
So exactly how do we choose life? The quick and simple answer is that we do it with our minds – we make a decision. That is absolutely true, but it doesn’t stop there. In fact we have only just begun the process of experiencing life and blessing when we make a decision.
The next step is where the men or ladies are separated from the boys and girls. We see this next step in Proverbs 18:21 – “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” The point here is that we can make a mental decision for life but the real force of the matter is how we speak.
The biggest lie we have ever heard is that sticks and stones can break some bones but words can’t cause any hurt. Lie, lie, lie. We can decide to help someone or take the time to teach someone, but if our words are harsh, cutting, or over-critical of this person, we have just undermined with dynamite what we originally set out to do.
This also applies to the words we speak over ourselves. We choose life or death with the words we speak over our dreams, our performances, our motivations, our health, our relationships, our emotions, and our destinies. We are missing out on a huge tool or key to our successes if we fail to realize this.
We cannot over-emphasize the importance of our words when it comes to enjoying success and being able to advance in the things the Lord has called us to and in or marriages, our children, and our lives.
Please do not pass over this encouragement given in Proverbs, for your words will indeed indicate the type of “fruit” you will be eating, fresh and tasty, or rotten and bitter.