When used appropriately, our words have the power to heal, encourage, help and teach. On the flip side, words can also confuse, embarrass and wound. It's vitally important to remember that our words carry a tremendous amount of impact for better or worse.
A well-known poem entitled “Power of Words,” whose author is unknown, speaks to the weight of our words:
A careless word may kindle strife.
A cruel word may wreck a life.
A bitter word may hate instill.
A brutal word may smite and kill.
A gracious word may smooth the way.
A joyous word may light the day.
A timely word may lessen stress.
A loving word may heal and bless.
Our speech challenges are really heart challenges. Our words start in our spirit. Our tongues are the servants of our spirits.
My words simply reveal what's in my heart. Jesus Himself mentioned this when He said, “Whatever is in your heart determines what you say” (Matthew 12:34). So as we allow God to work on our hearts, making us look (and sound) more like Him, we then position ourselves to be a mouth piece for the Lord, speaking words of truth and life to those around us.
Words have power. You've inevitably seen their power at work in your own life. You have the ability to build up or tear down based on the words you choose to speak.
Digging Deeper:
- What issues in your life or family are you thinking about in a negative way? Talk to God about it.
- Make a conscious effort to speak words that build your family up (including yourself) instead of tearing them down
