A week or so ago, we visited an elementary school and were asked on the spot to give a talk. Our team had just days before had been talking about the power words spoken over us have had on our lives. Negative, demeaning words had held back some, making them doubt their abilities even years after the words were spoken. I think we all can remember harsh words someone has spoken to us in the past, limiting our belief in ourselves in those areas. Isn’t it sad how we often forget the good things, but remember the bad? In Proverbs 12:18 it says, “Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” We should be acting out 1 Corinthians 14:3; speaking words that strengthen, encourage and comfort one another. Think of the power those kind of words can have. You know those days where you think too much? You try to plan ahead and picture how your life is going to turn out, and then in the process realize you have become so obsessed with the plan you have just created that you begin to panic life might not actually turn out that way? I had one of those days yesterday. It all came to a boiling point around 5 pm and Traci asked me if everything was okay. I responded not so happily, so we decided to go for a walk to talk- one of my favorite things. I shared how I was overwhelmed and how in one day I worked myself up to a point that I felt utterly hopeless about the future (at least for the plan I had made). Her words were so encouraging and the truth in them brought me back to the present. I spent some time reading my Bible, I hadn’t had such a wonderful time reading in a long time. God’s words were so precious and comforting. Not to worry about the future, “but to seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given.” I had completely lost focus on God and his plan for my life, “plans to to give a hope and a future” (Jer. 29:11) and instead became focused on what I thought I wanted for my life. I read recently that worry is unbelief in God. What a scary and helpless place I was in, yet just a few encouraging words opened my eyes and brought me right out of that pit. Thank God for those people in our lives who lift us up in times of need. I found it fitting that last Sunday Reverend Ayub talked about our words. How we are to speak life-giving words over our lives. He spoke on the power of our faith and having belief in God’s promises for our lives. Reverend left us with a challenge: we are not to speak negative words for the next month, and if someone hears you speaking negatively, they are able to hit you. While I haven’t been hit yet by my teammates, I have found myself checking my thoughts, thinking of what I am about to say, and turning them into something worth saying, rather than something that will bring others down. I encourage you to try it as well, it’s amazing how your attitude changes when you are looking for the blessings in life instead of the bad. After all, you never know the impact of the words you are speaking in that other person’s life.
James 3:5 came to mind and it says, “The tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by the small spark.” Reading this, I thought of the wildfires we have in California during the summers, burning up hundreds of homes, spreading many acres, and often these fires are started by just one little spark. Now imagine your words having that affect on another person’s life. One belittling comment, one mean remark could be the words that someone remembers for years down the road. Didn’t realize you could be so powerful, huh?
You have the power to do this in the lives of those around you. And so do I.
