“And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water? Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring.” (James 3:10–12 NLT)

A little boy went to his pastor’s house while the pastor was doing some carpentry. The boy watched the pastor intently while he worked. After several minutes of silence, the pastor looked at the boy and asked, “Son, are you here to pick up some carpentry tips?”

“No,” the boy replied, “I just want to know what a preacher says when he hits his thumb with a hammer.”

People are watching us—not just pastors, but anyone who claims to be a follower of Christ. More specifically, they’re listening to us. They’re waiting to hear inconsistencies—words that fall short of being Christlike.

What they really want to know is whether our faith comes from the heart. And the best way to find out what’s in someone’s heart is to listen to what comes out of their mouth. It’s a tough test, but a fair one, as James makes clear.

And it’s one that even some of the heroes of Scripture couldn’t pass. Isaiah was a great prophet of the Lord who saw an amazing vision of God on His throne, surrounded by angels (see Isaiah 6:1–4). And how did Isaiah respond? He cried, “It’s all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips. Yet I have seen the King, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies” (NLT). As he saw God in His glory, Isaiah saw himself in his own sinfulness, and the thing he specifically became aware of was his words. Joseph, Moses, and Simon Peter faced similar struggles.

You may be wondering, If these men of God fought losing battles with their tongue, what hope do I have? Quite a bit, in fact. And you can start by remembering the acronym T.H.I.N.K. Before you speak, before you post, before you tweet, before you communicate, ask yourself five quick questions. One, is what I’m about to say True? Do you know it for a fact? Two, is it Helpful? The fact that something is true doesn’t mean it should be said. Saying, “You look like you’ve gained weight” may be true, but it’s probably not helpful. Three, is it Inspiring? Will it bring someone down or lift them up? Four, is it Necessary? Would it be better left unsaid? Five, is it Kind? Will it touch someone’s heart? Asking yourself these questions before you speak can save you a lot of trouble.

The best place to start “T.H.I.N.K.-ing” is with your spouse (or, if you’re not married, with the people closest to you). You may need to explain that you’re trying to make the love in your heart more evident in the way you speak.

Some of you might say, “Greg, if I were to apply those questions to everything I say, I’d end up saying nothing.”

Amen. So be it.

Reflection question: Which of the five T.H.I.N.K. questions will have the biggest impact on the things you typically say?

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