Written by Abby Caymol | Jun 4, 2025

If you have read the Old Testament, you may have noticed that characters in the Bible often pronounced blessings, essentially speaking, life over those they interacted with. From God to His creation (Genesis 1:3), life came into being when God spoke. This can be seen in various instances: Noah blessed his children (Genesis 9:25-27), God made promises to Abraham (Genesis 12), Isaac blessed Jacob (Genesis 27:27-29) and Esau (Genesis 27:39-40), and Laban blessed his grandchildren (Genesis 31:55).

The Bible says, “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” When someone speaks kind words about you, it brings joy to your heart. In contrast, negative comments can cause deep hurt. Our words can significantly impact someone’s day or life, so we must consider how we use our tongues to produce positive and healthy outcomes for others.

Three key elements contribute to producing fruit from a flourishing tree. These are:

1.) Gentleness

Practicing Gentleness helps to cultivate kindness from within. God has imprinted the character of kindness in human beings; harshness cannot produce it. When you speak graciously to yourself or others, Gentleness brings out the best in you. For example, when God spoke blessings to Abraham (Genesis 12), His gracious words led to abundance in Abraham’s life. The Bible teaches us that there is power in our words. A gentle answer can turn away wrath, and kindness is described as a honeycomb—sweet to the soul and healthy for the body (Proverbs 16:24). The Holy Spirit encourages God’s chosen people to speak with kindness, Gentleness, and compassion. One of the fruits of Gentleness is peace. Being gentle and kind can create warmth and resolution in those who listen.

2.) Encouragement

The mouth speaks from the abundance of the heart. Talking about life to someone is impossible if positive things do not flow from the heart. Blessing someone plants a seed of encouragement in their heart, inspiring them to do the same for others. Encouragement is as contagious as Gentleness. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 states, “So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.” Ensure that your conversations are always filled with grace. By doing this, you fulfill the mission of the Holy Spirit. Season your speech with kindness so your encouragement is tasteful and uplifting to those who hear it.

3. Self-Control

In the fruit of the Spirit described in Galatians, self-control is mentioned as the last characteristic. Its placement is significant; practicing love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and Gentleness would be challenging without self-control. When you speak life into someone, pray for the will of God to guide your words. Self-control acts as a barrier, allowing you to pause before speaking words that do not contribute to uplifting someone. A prayerful encouragement is forever engraved in a person’s heart. At the same time, words spoken without the guidance of the Holy Spirit can leave one feeling vulnerable, like a city with broken-down walls lacking self-control (Proverbs 25:28).

In biblical terms, “sober-minded” means being set apart from worldly toxicity. The opposite of sober-mindedness is drunkenness, which doesn’t just refer to alcohol but also to spiritual intoxication. When we allow ourselves to be consumed by harmful influences, such as persistent sin that we refuse to surrender to God, speaking life into situations or others can become meaningless—mere empty chatter. This can ultimately lead us to live a double life.

Life and pronouncing blessings are only possible when we live according to the word of God in truth. By denying ourselves and prioritizing Jesus, we can genuinely communicate His message without fear of what to say.

Therefore, make your heart a clean space, filled with gentleness and encouragement, seasoned with self-control, to become a welcoming home for the Holy Spirit.