'Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.' I remember as a child trying to really believe this. But words can leave scars long after bones heal.
I once read that a word is like a living organism, capable of growing, changing, spreading, and influencing the world in many ways, directly and indirectly through others. As I reflect the power of our word to incite and divide, to calm and connect, or to create and effect change, I have been listening to the words spoken around me.
Proverbs 18:21 says: "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit."
The greatest good and the greatest harm are in the power of the tongue. The power behind words are that you probably can remember a time when words cut you down or when words lifted you up. And you probably remember who said them. Isn't that scary when we realize the responsibility we have when we open our mouths and speak!
Can you think of someone who uses their words to encourage, heal and help? I want to hang out with that person all day. They are a bolt of energy in a deflated soul.
Death words are critical, judgemental, negative and hurtful. The purpose is not for good. Words seasoned with the negative tend to drive people away. Not very effective for Christians wanting to share God's word.
May we all strive to speak words of life. To do so we must put on the mind of Christ and have an intimate relationship with Him, the living Spirit which dwells in us.
Proverbs 10:20, "The tongue of the just is as choice silver." In other words, good words are precious, valuable and scarce. "A wholesome tongue is a tree of life" Prov. 15:4.
In our platform of influence, may we choose words of life to reflect God's love on the world around us and build each other up so that His ultimate glory may shine!
Your life and words matters,
Lesley
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