Words. It is said that a woman speaks about 20,000
words a day. That is a lot of
words. A lot.
Recently while working on a
chapter regarding the “Power of Your Words” in a study that I am involved in, “Living
in Freedom Every Day”, as I began to dive into the chapter, I had the mindset
of “already know it…got it…let’s fill in the blanks and move on”. But that isn’t what happened at all. Not even close.
As I was reading the chapter and
looking up and writing out the scripture associated with it, Jesus spoke to
me so gently … “Debbie, there are words that were spoken to you and over you, as
a child, and even up until this very day, that you relive almost daily. Those words are creating death in your life. Replace those lies that were spoken with my
truth. Receive the life I have created
for you.”
An avalanche of words crashed through
my mind, as I collapsed in tears, weeping and almost hearing the voices of those who spoke these words to me.
“Debbie, you are lazy!”
“Debbie you are so selfish!”
“Debbie, you will never amount to
anything!”
“Debbie, you will never be able
to handle money!”
“Debbie, I never loved you! Nobody will ever love you!”
“Debbie, you’re such an idiot!”
“Debbie, you are just psycho!”
“Debbie, you were such a terrible
mother!”
The list is much longer – but you
get the picture…these words…some spoken to me from others, some I spoke over
myself – all of them hurt. They hurt
deeply. It is said "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me." That is a lie straight from the pits of hell. Words can kill me.
Then, I remembered those words
that I spoke over others….
“You will end up in jail!”
“You’re such an idiot!”
“You NEVER listen!”
“You are so selfish!”
“Stupid!”
I crumbled beneath the weight of
the words I have spoken to those I profess to love and care about. And I wept...My words were speaking death to their lives.
BUT GOD…
As I cried out to Him seeking forgiveness to those that I have hurt with my words, He lifted
me from that dark heap of emotion and sorrow…and pointed me to His word.
You see, God used words to speak
into existence all that was…just read Genesis.
Then God
said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. (Genesis 1:3)
And he continued to "speak" for six (6) days. Creating life.
So God showed us the power of
words in the very beginning. If words
were important to Him, shouldn’t they be to us?
Our words are either building up or tearing down...speaking life or speaking death.
His Word is clear regarding the power of our words. Let’s look
at just a few scriptures:
Some people
make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise bring healing. (Proverbs 12:18)
Those who
control their tongue will have a long life; opening your mouth can ruin
everything. (Proverbs 13:3)
A gentle
answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare. (Proverbs 15:1)
Gentle words
are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit. (Proverbs 15:4)
Kind words
are like honey – sweet to the soul and healthy for the body. (Proverbs 16:24)
The tongue
can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the
consequences. (Proverbs 18:21)
So today, if like me, you have
had words of destruction spoken over you (or, like me, you’ve spoken them to
yourself) or like me, you’ve spoken them to others…let’s make today, the first
day of the rest of our lives in being INTENTIONAL about what words we think and
speak to others and to ourselves.
If words bring death or life –
let’s choose life!
How do we do that? By replacing those thoughts with God’s
truth.
Here are a few examples:
“Debbie, you
are lazy!” – God’s truth is “I am fearfully and wonderfully made!”
(Psalm 139:14)
“Debbie you
are so selfish!” – God’s truth is “He is the vine and I am the branch, if I
remain in Him, I will bear much fruit!”
(John 15:4-5)
“Debbie, you
will never amount to anything!” – God’s truth is “He has plans for me! Plans for good and not for disaster, to give me a
future and a hope!” (Jeremiah 29:11)
“Debbie, you
will never be able to handle money!” – God’s truth is “I can do ALL things through
Christ!” (Philippians 4:13) and “God will provide ALL my needs!”
(Phillipians 4:19)
“Debbie, I
never loved you! Nobody will ever love you!” – God’s truth is “I
have loved you with an everlasting love!” (Jeremiah 31:3)
“Debbie, you’re
such an idiot!” – God’s truth is “I was made in His image!" (Genesis 1:27)
“Debbie, you
are just psycho!” – God’s truth is “I am new in Christ! The old is gone – the new
has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
“Debbie, you
were such terrible mother!” – God’s truth is “He will give back to me what was
lost” (Joel 2:25) and “He cast my sin as far as the east is from
the west!” (Psalm 103:12)
And how will I respond to (and about) others that I previously spoke death? Let me share some of those examples too.
“You will end up in jail!” - God's truth is, "I am confident that God will complete the work He has begun in you!" (Philippians 1:6)
“You’re such an idiot!” - God's truth is, "You are God's treasured possession!" (Deuteronomy 7:6)
“You NEVER listen!” - God's truth is, Debbie, avoiding a fight is a mark of honor. This time, just be quiet! (Proverbs 20:3)
“You are so selfish!” - God's truth is, Debbie, from the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks. Examine yourself first and just be quiet! (Luke 6:45)
“Stupid!”- God's truth is, Debbie, whoever guards his mouth, preserves his life. Just be quiet! (Proverbs 13:3)
You'll notice most of the time, I should have just chosen to be quiet. So before we speak, let us THINK
T - Is it True?
H - Is is Helpful?
I - Is it Inspiring?
N- Is it Necessary?
K - Is it Kind?
If I cannot answer a resounding YES! to all of those questions, then it probably doesn't need to be said.
Today, I’m asking forgiveness to
those whom I’ve spoken words of death and I’m making a decision today that I
will speak life to and about those people God has placed in my path.
For His word also reminds me of this:
A good person produces good things from the
treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the
treasury of an evil heart. And I tell you this, you must
give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak. The words you say will either acquit you or
condemn you. (Matthew 12:35-37 - emphasis mine)
And just one more scripture comes
to my mind as I end this writing:
This day I
call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before
you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your
children may live (Deuteronomy 30:19)
What will you choose today? The choice is yours.
