How a person talks says a lot about them. Have you ever noticed that people who talk negatively are often miserable? On the flip side, happy people tend to have a positive outlook on life—and it shows in the words they speak!

But it doesn't stop there. How people talk and what they say affects their relationships with others.

As an example, let's say you're hanging out with your friends. One can't stop complaining about everything in her life. The weather is ALWAYS awful, her husband is never good enough, and she can never go to the grocery store without getting annoyed by something... or someone. I bet you'd be desperately trying to find any reason to leave the conversation, wouldn't you?

Then there's your other friend. She always has something good to talk about. Maybe instead of complaining about all the rain, she'll say how good it is for the farmers' crops. She talks about how much she loves her husband and all he does for her. Even when she goes through hard times, she focuses on God's faithfulness. This is someone you love spending time with!Your words are like a magnet—they can either attract people or push them away. This was true for Jesus. It didn't matter where He walked, all sorts of people followed. They were drawn to Him—not only because of what He said, but also because of how He said it. In the same way, your words can attract people to Jesus too!

It's easier said than done, right? In the heat of the moment, you might slip up. But God can help you make that change... even if it's only a little bit at a time.

A good way to start is by declaring God's Word over yourself. Taking Colossians 4:6, you could say, "I keep my conversations gracious and positive so that I'm prepared to give a respectful answer to anyone who asks about my faith."

Or you could declare, "When conflicts come up, instead of reacting in anger, I'll slow down and offer a gentle response instead" (Proverbs 15:1).Your words carry power. Just like flipping a light switch changes where the power goes, you can also flip the switch on your words to become more positive!

To help start you off, we've prepared a list of eight declarations based on Scripture for you. Click here to download the Walk in the Word collection for this month. Then you can begin to speak these verses over yourself every day.

As you start to speak in faith, you'll see change happen. You'll become more and more like Jesus in every way—including your words!

P.S. If you want to get a collection like this every month, you can sign up for our emails. At the beginning of each month, we'll send you great resources to build your faith, including Walk in the Word.