Sticks and stones are hard on bones
but words will never hurt you.
Most of us have heard that little saying growing up. When we are older hopefully we begin to realize the power words have on our lives. However, what about the power our words have on the lives of those around us. Words are POWER. I regularly teach on thoughts and self talk. Often people's self talk is a repetition of a pivotal moment in their lives when someone spoke words that were powerful to them. Sometimes those words were encouraging or motivational. Often those words were critical or condemning. I have sat with people who had negative words spoken over them and those words motivated them to prove that person wrong. More often I sit with people who have fought to overcome/survive the words that have been spoken over them. Every mistake or failure in life brings those words to echo a refrain throughout their hearts. Our words have the power of LIFE and DEATH and each time we speak them we are speaking life or death.
Hold on! Did you get that?
EVERY TIME we speak we are speaking LIFE or DEATH.
What would you choose? Hopefully, we all want to speak life but how often are we speaking death? Have you ever met one of those hypercritical people? Many of us know at least one of those people in our lives, whether it be a parent, spouse, boss, sibling, co worker. One day recently I was struggling with setting boundaries with this person in my life and the words they speak. I know that they care but their words are death to all those around them and yet they cannot see the destruction. As I was pondering this situation and how it feels to be on the receiving end of these words, I got a picture in my mind of their words. Each time these words are spoken they are indeed like stones of death being thrown one stone at a time. It reminded me of the stonings in Biblical times. Hurling words of death one stone at a time. This leads to shame or a feeling that I am bad, worthless, never enough, _________. You fill in the blank. I have yet to meet someone who can't. The words are painfully powerful that have been spoken to them, over them and then repeated by them over themselves. I challenge myself as well as you to think before we speak. I am going to keep that picture in my head of a stoning. Would we willingly choose to participate in a stoning? NO WAY! But how often do we choose words of death for ourselves or those whose lives we touch whether we know them or are just meeting them in passing. We have the power to CHANGE lives one word at a time.
Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweet to the soul healing to the bones.
Proverbs 16:24
My prayer for you today is that the power of every negative word that has ever been spoken over you, to you, or by you over yourself be broken in the name of Jesus. They are null and void and EVERY fruit they have created in your life is destroyed. May He heal every broken and wounded place within you. And I speak a blessing of the opposite of those words over you - hope, love, grace, belonging, health, wholeness. May your heart be open to the love and grace of God our Father to do a work within you greater than any you can hope, think, or imagine. May He give you words of grace and love for yourself and others.
In Jesus name, Amen
