TeaTime Devotional July 23rd, 2025

Written By:  Jasmine Haynes

Scripture: Proverbs 18:21 NLT 

“The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”

Testify:

Growing up my grandparents always instilled in me, my siblings and cousins to be careful what we say and to always speak life over ourselves. They made sure we knew that words are immensely powerful and to never speak ill over ourselves or others. If they would hear us saying that we were “broke” or sick they would always get on our cases and tell us that we are what we say. They would always correct our words and tell us to speak healing over our bodies if we were not feeling well. They will also tell us if we say we’re broke then that’s what we would be. As I continue to mature, I’m very cautious of the words I speak and am instilling that into my daughter as well, because we are covered by the blood of Jesus and we’re also very blessed.

Edify:

As I found this scripture, I had a flash back of my grandparent’s instruction.   I would have never thought that they were using scripture to instill wisdom into my life. As I ponder it, they made us practice how to speak blessings and disciplined us when we spoke defeat. That is just like God.   To me this scripture is saying that life and death is in the power of the tongue. If you speak life, then you will have life. If you speak death over yourself then that too shall come to existence.  I don’t know about you, but I want to eat from the fruit of my words.   Fruit is produced whether I speak life or death.   I want fresh fruit, that will last for generations.    So, just as I was reminded as a child, I’m about to change the way I talk, after all I am what I say.  

Apply:

Before complaining and speaking negative, take a second to shut your mouth and think before speaking. There is power in our words, and we should always speak life and healing over ourselves as well as those around us.