Our words are so powerful. Life and death are in our words, which is why it’s so important that we test our words before they are spoken. This simple test could save us from a lot of trouble, and point us in the direction of blessing IF we filter all our words through this simple, 3-question test:
3-Question Test for Your Words:
1. Is it kind?
2. Is it necessary?
3. Is it true?
Psalm 141:3 – “Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!”
Is it kind?
If it’s not kind, don’t say it. You’ll regret it later. An unkind word bears no good fruit. It just causes weeds to grow rampant in the garden, choking the good plants.
Proverbs 16:24 – “Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.”
Proverbs 15:4 – “The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.”
Is it necessary?
Some things that you want to say, aren’t actually evil or wrong, but is it necessary? There’s a lot of stuff we say that’s just noise — just empty chatter. A lot of what we think about, is also just cluttering up our mind and heart. Ask yourself if there is a lot of unnecessary thinking going on in your head, that’s wasting your energy and time, distracting you from simplicity. This helps filter out a lot of the unnecessary talk. Is what you’re about to say going to benefit the conversation, or just clutter up the world with another pile of unnecessary 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.”
Ephesians 5:4 – “Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.”
Is it true?
If it’s not true, then it should not be spoken. Full stop. There is no place for falsehood in the body of Christ. We were founded on truth, and truth is in our very lifeblood. We were made in the image of Truth itself. Lies, exaggerations, and information that we can’t find a reliable source to back it up with, should be silenced. Zip it.
I am attempting to use this 3-question test to filter my words, before they come out of my mouth. I want my words to be intentional, weighed by the Spirit of God, and sent through the filter of wisdom, before they are given permission to enter the spoken world. I invite you to take this same test in your own life.
Psalm 39:1 – “I said, ‘I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin; I will put a muzzle on my mouth’”
Psalm 19:14 – “May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.”
Alison Lam 