There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification.
1 Corinthians 14:10

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it—for death or life.
‍Proverbs 18:21

God’s Standard of Speech

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Ephesians 4:29

As a person thinks in his heart so is he.
Proverbs 2:17

It’s out of the overflow of our hearts, the mouth speaks.
Luke 6:45

Bottom Line

A changed heart will produce a changed mouth.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Matthew 5:8

The heart was thought of as the seat of the character—the origin of the desires, affections, perceptions, thoughts, reasoning, imagination, conscience, intentions, purpose, will and faith.

Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thorn bushes or grapes from briers. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.
Luke 6:44-45

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
Proverbs 4:23

Action Steps

Reflect

• ‍Acknowledge before God your true desire for your words to bring enablement, comfort and encouragement into the lives of others.
• Agree with Him to let His Standard of Speech be yours, as well.
• Admit to Him that this is impossible in your own strength and ask Him to teach you how to rely on His Spirit to make this change in your patterns of speaking. And in faith thank Him for how He will do this.

Practice

• Spend time in prayer. Ask God to guide your words and give you opportunities to encourage others.
• Practice pausing/thinking before you speak. Count to three in your mind and think—will my response be God-honoring?
• Apologize to those your words have caused harm to.

T — Is it TRUE?

H — Is it HELPFUL?

I — Is it INSPIRING?  

N — Is it NECESSARY?

K — Is it KIND?