keep a watch over your words.

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

I've heard this verse so many times. It's quoted right and left. But never have those words hit me in the way they did this morning.

Don't let any rotten, rude, snappy, harsh, gossiping words--pretty much any words that have any chance whatsoever of hurting someone--come out of your mouth. none at all.
Not only that, but the only thing that can come out of your mouth are words that will build people up.

For me, this means:
- Don't talk with even your best friend about another person in a way that will make that person look bad in the slightest. Does it benefit the person listening? no. Does it benefit the person be spoken about? no. Then don't say it.

- Don't throw witty comments at people. yes, they're sarcastic. yes, they probably know you're only joking. but they're not building that person up. they're unwholesome.

- Don't think you can get away with saying semi-harsh things in a sarcastic tone. If the words are rude, they're rude. a sarcastic tone doesn't coat them over.

Resolved: to watch with utmost care the words that come out of my mouth.