At the beginning of each new year, I choose a word or a verse that I can hold on to throughout the year – one that challenges me to focus on a unique aspect of God’s character and brings that to the forefront of my life. As the calendar flipped from 2024 to 2025, a word or verse was not easily coming to me, so I enlisted the help of a random word generator to choose one for me. The word it presented was “intentional”, so now I keep that word top of mind as I go about life this year. I write it in my planner and put it in a prominent spot in my office. It’s a filter through which I will approach each week and each day. How am I being intentional in connecting with God and others? How am I being intentionally Christ-like to others with my words and actions? How can I be more intentional with the opportunities God has put in front of me? This includes Good Word Project. We each write about a word of the month, and through this, I’m presented with new ways to see a word and new opportunities to examine God’s character. I challenge myself to be more intentional with my own character as a result of discovering or rediscovering something new or something God might be calling me to. And our word “NEIGHBOR” this month has been no exception. The Lord has put some challenges on my heart around being intentional with how I interact with and respond to the people around me. In other words, how can I be a good neighbor to others?  

First, let’s define “neighbor”. The Oxford dictionary offers these three definitions:

• a person living near or next door to the speaker or person referred to
• a person or place in relation to others near or next to it
• any person in need of one’s help or kindness (after biblical use)

With the digital world connecting us to people in ways never thought possible, I think it’s safe to say that our ‘neighborhoods’ have expanded. I would argue the biblical definition is the most relevant given our ever-changing landscape. That doesn’t mean that being a good neighbor is complicated; it’s not. But it does require intentionality. Whether through the warmth of hospitality, the power of life-giving words, or the kindness we extend in digital spaces, we can reflect the love of Christ in a world that desperately needs it. When Jesus commanded us to love our neighbors as ourselves (Mark 12:31), He wasn’t just talking about the people who live next door. He was calling us to a lifestyle—one of hospitality, kindness, and intentional love. I believe one of the most impactful ways we can intentionally connect with and show love to others is through our words.

Words are powerful. They have the ability to heal or harm, to encourage or tear down, to bring life or death. “The tongue has the power of life and death” (Proverbs 18:21), and yet, in the rush of life, we often underestimate the weight of what we say. As Christ-followers, we are called to love with our words. How we speak to and about others reflects the condition of our hearts and can either draw people closer to Christ or push them away.

1. Speaking Life Over Others

Throughout Scripture, we see the power of words in shaping lives.

• God spoke the world into existence (Genesis 1).
• Jesus healed with a word (Luke 7:7).
• The early church was built on the spoken message of the Gospel (Acts 2:41).

If words can create, heal, and transform, then how much more should we be mindful of how we speak to our neighbors—our families, coworkers, friends, and even strangers?

Speaking life means choosing words that build up rather than tear down (Ephesians 4:29). It’s as simple as:

• Offering encouragement instead of criticism.
• Speaking with patience instead of frustration.
• Praying for someone rather than gossiping about them.

As my husband often reminds me, it is more important to win the relationship than the argument.

If our words are to reflect Christ’s love, then in our words one should find grace, truth, and kindness.

2. Guarding Against Words That Wound

While words can heal, they can also deeply wound. James 3:6 describes the tongue as “a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body.” We’ve all experienced the sting of harsh words—careless remarks, gossip, or criticism that lingers in our minds long after they’re spoken. And if you’re like me, I have even fallen victim to the enemy using those words to expand lie upon lie… they grow like weeds in our hearts.

As believers, we are called to be set apart in how we speak:

• Avoiding gossip that divides rather than unites.
• Speaking with humility instead of pride.
• Refusing to use sarcasm or passive-aggressiveness as a weapon.

Jesus reminds us in Matthew 12:36 that we will give an account for every careless word we speak. That’s a sobering thought! But instead of fearing our words, we can see this as an opportunity to use them wisely, intentionally, and lovingly.

3. Words That Reflect Christ

In a world filled with so much noise, our words should sound different. They should bring peace in conflict, hope in despair, and love in indifference. Colossians 4:6 instructs us: “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt.”

Here are three simple ways we can reflect Christ with our words:

• Speak encouragement daily. A small word of kindness can shift someone’s entire perspective. Who can you encourage today?
• Pray before speaking. Ask God to guide your words, especially in difficult conversations.
• Pause before reacting. In moments of frustration, choose silence before saying something you might regret. This one is arguably the hardest, but can be the most impactful to us personally and to the one(s) on the other end.

A Call to Speak Life

Loving our neighbor isn’t just about serving or giving—it’s about how we speak to people in our ever-expanding neighborhoods. Every conversation is an opportunity to reflect Jesus. Imagine how our families, workplaces, and communities would change if we intentionally chose words that offered life instead of destruction.

So today, in the spirit of being intentional, I’m asking myself, Are my words pointing people toward Jesus?

Because the words we speak today impact the posture of our hearts and shape the world around us. In the end, loving our neighbor isn’t about grand gestures—it’s about daily faithfulness in the little things, like choosing an encouraging word. And that’s where the love of Jesus shines brightest.

Lord, thank You for Your perfect example of what it means to be a good neighbor. I ask for Your forgiveness when I let pride and selfishness seep into my relationships through unclean and discouraging words spoken. I ask for help from Your Holy Spirit to be salt and light in this crazy world. Please soften my heart and guide my intentions to be faithful in regularly using words to encourage and build up others around me. With deep gratitude, in the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.