Growth and Words
After revisiting my journal,
from the past month, I found my greatest piece of knowledge I will carry
forever. Words are powerful and beyond our measure. They can make us or break
us. Build us up or tear us down. Words can define who we are. I rediscovered
the freedom in speaking life into myself and my daily battles a few weeks ago
and my shoulders have felt as light as a feather ever since.
“Growth
is a desire only until we make the step to being who we want and gaining what
we want.”
I wrote this in my journal
not two weeks ago. Reflecting on its words countless times, I began to see the correlation
between growth and words.
Growth is something our mind and heart and soul could have
if we chose to walk the paths laid before our feet by God. It’s only a vision,
a dream, an “I wish I were…” comment until you give it life. Giving life to
growth is a challenge. No one said a body builder’s work is easy. The strongest
men and women aren’t the strongest men and women because they wanted to be. It’s
because they made the effort to be. They chose to be. They did what it took to
be the person their hearts’ desired. Growth is something we cannot sit back and
talk about until we achieve what we want. The definition of grow is “to
increase in size by natural process.” What is the process? It’s simple really. Ask
yourself the questions such as: What am I trying to achieve? What am I trying
to let go of? Am I asking God for help and guidance or am I doing it alone? What
steps have I taken to attain my goal? And the scariest question am I ready to
battle this? The answer should always be “yes, I am ready.” God is always ready
for us to move in the direction of righteousness. He is always willing to be a
helping hand. “So do
not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will
strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” –
Isaiah 41:10
Words as mentioned before can kill and heal, your choice. Truly
it is our choice what comes from our mouth. Being on this trip and hearing the hearts on
my squad I’ve realized the most hurtful things in our lives never leave us and
the most uplifting. I thought about this for myself. And it’s true. Grace and
forgiveness has been given but my face still drains of color when I think of
some of the things said to me in my life. Words can rip us apart. Easily, you
can speak death into a situation or person and the battle is over. You’ve just
taken all hope and belief out of a person and they only think of failure from
there on. Ben Patterson quotes in He Has Made Me Glad, “The damage is
as enduring as it is incalculable.” But,
when choosing to speak life into a person or situation we are able to build a
person up enough to reach a goal. This includes ourselves.
I found the battle with my
struggles had been won for a very long time this month. I was continuously speaking
death into my victory and ultimately it kept my mind in a state of defeat. As soon
as I chose to speak life into myself and chose to hold the title of conqueror
and victor, I had grown. The key to growing through some things is simply pure,
warm, and bold words of affirmation. We can’t sit back and say “I can’t change”
or “It’s just who I am and how I grew up.” That’s nonsense and lazy to say the
least. Everyone can change their ways and everyone always has room to be more
like Christ. Which is ultimately the main reason we choose to grow.
I pray this message is
encouraging to those in need and reaches those in search. God Bless.
