Words for the Wise: 5 Ways to Speak Jesus into a World of Noise

January 14, 2026
By Karen Herrick

Words, Words, Everywhere

We can’t really escape words, whether they’re spoken, written, typed, texted, coded, signed, printed, published, heard, listed, shared, thought, dreamt…words are so much part of our lives, aren’t they?

Words can be wonderful… affirming, positive, encouraging, helpful, healing, instructional, inspirational, bringing knowledge, confidence, truth, love, friendship and so much more BUT they can also be used to bring harm- hatred, hurt, distrust, discontent, untruth- used as ammunition, our words wounding like shrapnel and embedding lasting damage into the soul of another human being.

Words can stay with us our entire lives- whether intentional or not… I’m sure we can all recall words of positivity that have affected our whole lives, and also words, though untrue, that have also stayed with us…perhaps words spoken to us at school by a supposed friend, or a teacher, a work colleague- affecting us deeply in a negative way, in the way we see or feel or believe about ourselves…maybe there are words that still affect us deeply today in some way….for good or bad.

In Scripture, as in life, words are not neutral; they reveal character, exposing part of who we are.
I wonder what my words say about me?

W — Weigh Your Words Carefully

Wise people think before they speak.
James 1:19 says this: “Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.”
The truth is, that words, once spoken cannot be retrieved; they either build bridges in relationships or burn them.
So, I wonder… Will my words heal or harm?
Before speaking, do I need to pause to consider what Jesus might say – if He were me, in this situation…

O — Offer Words that Heal, Not Hurt or Harm

Words can give life and hope or crush it completely.
Ephesians 4:29 advises “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up.”
Jesus always enriched the lives of others with words and actions offering both grace and understanding.
We only have to think of Jesus’ words to the woman caught in adultery .
“Woman, where are they? Does no one condemn you?”“No one, Master.” “Neither do I,” said Jesus.
Our words are meant to encourage, comfort, and restore. We are to become a “tree of life” for others with our speech, offering shelter, shade, sustenance with our roots anchored deeply and strongly in God. “The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.” Says Proverbs 15:4

R — Reflect Christ in Your Speech

Our speech should reflect the character of Christ, who is “full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).
Colossians 4:6 reminds us to “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt.” For just as salt preserves and flavours food, gracious words preserve relationships and add spiritual flavour to life. When we speak, the ideal is that others might sense the presence of Jesus in our tone and truth.
Our actions, too, are to reflect our words. It is no good if our words are empty and meaningless.
Our words and actions are to speak Jesus into our encounters, and into the world.

D — Discipline Your Tongue Daily

It’s so easy to hastily say something we didn’t mean to, or our words be misconstrued. It’s so much harder to take something back. Once said, our words cannot be recalled. Our tongues need to be trained by the Spirit and governed by self-control.
Ephesians 4: 29-32 offers advice for when we speak…
“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…Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
Like a horse needs a bridle, or a ship, a rudder to steer- so our speech needs Spirit-led discipline to steer our words & actions to “Let the words of our mouth… be acceptable in God’s sight” (Psalm 19:14).

S — Speak from a Mind & Heart of Wisdom

Wise words can only come from a wise heart; for the source of wisdom flows from within us. A well can only draw from what’s within it; so, too with us- for if our heart is full of God’s Word, our mouths will overflow with grace and truth. If I fill a jug with water, then water flows out, if filled with poison, then that is what pours forth!
So, how might we fill our hearts and minds with wisdom? For our spoken words are only part of our words.
What about the words we write, the words we read, the words we hear and see? The truth is that whatever we fill our lives with– the books we read, the friends we keep, the conversations we share, the TV & movies we watch, the emails we write, the songs we listen to- all contribute daily to filling our minds and hearts with particular ways of understanding. It is only when we fill our minds & hearts with good things, that we can speak wisely with goodness and truth. Filling our lives daily with Godly things- alongside Scripture and prayer is the key to our words speaking and reflect godly wisdom.
St Paul’s words to the Philippians seem apt here….
Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.

These are the sorts of things we are to fill our hearts with so that our words, too, may be right, and pure, and lovely. I pray that our words might be an instrument of blessing, not destruction; of healing not harm- that our words make way for God’s Word.
“Let the words of our mouths and the meditation of our hearts be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, our rock and my redeemer.”

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