Devotion: The Power of Words

Ephesians 4:29

"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."

During a recent phone conversation, someone asked me if I would have made different decisions knowing what I know now. It’s a question we’ve all faced, and the typical answer is "no"—we often wish we could go back and change certain choices. But in this instance, I chose not to answer. Recently, I’ve made a decision to stop dwelling on things I wish I had done differently. These types of reflections rarely lead to growth; instead, they tend to highlight regret.

While it's true that we can learn valuable lessons from our past mistakes, I believe that seeking those lessons is different from dwelling on the mistakes themselves. Reflecting on mistakes without a purpose becomes a rehearsal of shame and regret, rather than a reflection of the redeeming grace of the Gospel in our lives.

Ephesians 4:29 reminds us to speak in ways that uplift and build others up. Often, we focus on how our words affect others, but we forget that we also hear our own words. We, too, can become victims of negative self-talk or beneficiaries of positive, affirming words. So, let’s choose words that are life-giving, healing, and redeeming—not just for others, but for ourselves as well.