The TRUTH Blueprint for Communication
Words are powerful. They can heal or harm, build trust or break it, inspire or discourage. In a world where communication is constant—emails, texts, social media posts, and face-to-face interactions—it’s easy to speak without considering the weight of our words.
For years, I’ve spoken in churches about the importance of pausing before we speak, often referencing the familiar acronym THINK:
Is it True?
Is it Helpful?
Is it Inspiring?
Is it Necessary?
Is it Kind?
That framework has helped many people slow down, reflect, and choose words wisely. But society evolves, and with it, our understanding of communication and human nature. I’ve also grown in my own awareness of how people experience truth differently. In today’s world, “truth” is often viewed through shifting lenses—personal experience, cultural context, and emotional perception all play a role.
So, in my own evolving, I’ve developed what I like to call the TRUTH Blueprint for Communication that you’re reading, here, today. It builds on the spirit of THINKing before you speak, but emphasizes a deeper level of mindfulness in how we engage with others.
To follow this blueprint, you’ll ask yourself five questions:
TIMELY: IS THIS THE RIGHT MOMENT AND CHANNEL TO SAY IT?
Even the right words can do harm if spoken at the wrong time. Timing is about discernment—waiting for the moment when someone can best hear what you have to say.
Scripture reminds us: “For everything there is a season, a right time for every activity under heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1, MSG). Proverbs paints the picture vividly: “Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken at the right time” (Proverbs 25:11, AMP).
Timeliness builds trust because it shows restraint and patience. It proves you value not just what you say, but the person’s readiness to hear it. Integrity isn’t only about saying what’s true—it’s about aligning truth with the right moment.
RESPECTFUL: AM I HONORING THE OTHER PERSON’S DIGNITY AS I SPEAK?
Respect doesn’t dilute truth; it dignifies it. Words that tear down the person rather than address the behavior betray both relationship and character.
Paul urged believers: “Let no foul or polluting language, nor evil word nor unwholesome or worthless talk [ever] come out of your mouth, but only such [speech] as is good and beneficial to the spiritual progress of others” (Ephesians 4:29, AMP). Respect is woven into love: “Love one another with brotherly affection [as members of one family], giving precedence and showing honor to one another” (Romans 12:10, AMP/ESV blend).
When your speech is respectful, people know your goal isn’t to shame but to build up. That consistency makes your honesty safe, and safety is the soil where trust takes root.
USEFUL: WILL THIS HELP THE PERSON OR THE SITUATION MOVE FORWARD?
Not everything needs to be said. Usefulness asks: Will my words help? Will they move this forward?
Paul encouraged: “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer each person” (Colossians 4:6, CSB). He also wrote: “Do not let unwholesome [foul, profane, worthless, vulgar] words ever come out of your mouth, but only such speech as is good for building up others according to the need… so that it will be a blessing to those who hear you speak” (Ephesians 4:29, AMP).
Usefulness trims away idle chatter, gossip, or venting, leaving room only for words that clarify, heal, or direct. Over time, people learn your voice adds value, not noise—making them lean in when you speak.
THOUGHTFUL: HAVE I CONSIDERED PERSPECTIVE, LANGUAGE, AND IMPACT BEFORE I SPEAK?
Thoughtfulness is where empathy meets wisdom. It’s pausing long enough to consider how your words might land, and choosing the phrasing, tone, and timing that carry truth with care.
James counsels us: “Understand this, my beloved brothers and sisters: let everyone be quick to hear [be a careful, thoughtful listener], slow to speak, slow to anger” (James 1:19, AMP). Paul echoes this with warmth: “Let every word you speak be drenched with grace and tempered with truth and clarity” (Colossians 4:6, TPT).
Being thoughtful doesn’t mean avoiding hard truths—it means arranging them so they can be received. Thoughtfulness shows maturity, patience, and love—and when paired with honesty, it makes your words transformative.
HONEST: AM I BEING FULLY TRUTHFUL WITHOUT EXAGGERATION, DISTORTION, OR OMISSION?
At the foundation of TRUTH lies honesty. Without it, the rest collapses. Honesty is not harshness; it’s the courage to speak reality without distortion or omission.
Paul calls us to this standard: “Instead, by speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into Him who is the head—Christ” (Ephesians 4:15, CSB). And again: “Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old self with its practices” (Colossians 3:9, CSB/ESV).
This principle is close to my heart. I recently presented a virtual message at Sandy Acres Baptist Church in Umatilla, Florida, titled The Devil’s Three-Point Plan, on the subject of lying and deception. In that message, I explored how the enemy thrives on twisting truth and eroding trust. You can hear that message here.
Honesty builds credibility because people know your words can be trusted. Coupled with love, it becomes liberating rather than wounding. Honesty anchors your integrity, aligning what you say with what is real—and with Who is Truth itself.
WHY DOES “TRUTH” MATTER?
The TRUTH filter isn’t about making our speech polished; it’s about making our communication purposeful. It helps us create space between impulse and response so that our words bring life, not damage.
Proverbs reminds us: “Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit—you choose” (Proverbs 18:21, MSG). When our speech is timely, respectful, useful, thoughtful, and honest, we multiply life.
ARE YOU UP FOR A CHALLENGE?
Transformation doesn’t come from simply agreeing with a concept—it comes from practicing it daily. That’s why I encourage you to take the seven-day TRUTH challenge. Each day, focus on one principle—Timely, Respectful, Useful, Thoughtful, Honest—and watch how your communication begins to shift.
To help guide you, I’ve created the TRUTH Blueprint for Communication Worksheet, available for purchase here. It’s a simple, practical tool with daily prompts, reflection space, and a step-by-step plan for putting each of the five principles into action over the course of a week. Think of it as a companion resource designed to help you move from insight to practice, one conversation at a time.
Over just seven days, you may begin to notice your words carrying more weight, your relationships becoming safer, and your integrity deepening.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
Jesus taught: “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34, ESV). If our hearts are full of love, grace, and truth, our words will naturally overflow with life.
Speaking with TRUTH is not about perfection but about alignment—bringing our words into harmony with our faith, our values, and our integrity.
Your words matter. Speak with TRUTH.