Handbook for life

As you read these articles, I pray they will inspire in you an inquisitive yearning to look deeper into God’s wondrous ‘handbook for life’ the Holy Bible.

I feel to write on a subject that affects us all on a daily basis – ‘the power of our words’. What the  Bible says regarding our speech and the profound and lasting effect our words have on the lives of those around us could not possibly be covered in these two pages – this is just a taste.

Proverbs 18:26 (Amp) Death and life are in the power of the tongue and they who indulge in it eat of the fruit of it (for death or life).

Can you recall a time when you spoke harsh or defamatory words against another or repeated an unfounded rumor? I know I can. How we saw those words crush someone’s self worth or dreams held dear to their heart. You may have wished you could suck those words back in, but it was too late, the damage had been done and they still haunt you to this day.

Maybe you can recall negative words spoken over you that replay continuously in your mind and have affected you so deeply you feel unable to rise above them. Words like, ‘you’ll never amount to anything, you’re useless, I wish you’d never been born’. Negative words can hang over a human life like a black cloud of limitation that debilitates, brings despair and causes one to be a afraid to ever ‘step out and have a go’.

Take a moment to revisit those painful memories and allow God’s loving wisdom to illuminate the truth of that scripture, ‘death and life are in the power of the tongue’ …..

The good news is that the power of those words can be broken forever by a simple prayer. Long held accusations or loose words spoken in anger that freeze and debilitate our soul, (mind, will and emotions), can be destroyed forever. Maybe you would like to pray this prayer right now. “Lord Jesus, please reach deep on the inside of me and destroy the sting of every negative word ever spoken against me, please remove the ceiling of limitation caused by those words”. Amen

As the Holy Spirit brings to your remembrance harsh words you have spoken, with a humble genuine heart, ask God to forgive you and ask that He ‘burn up like chaff’ and remove every negative word you have spoken over others, so that they would be released and set completely free. Maybe you would go one step further and have the courage to go to that one and ask for forgiveness for the pain you have caused.   I guarantee you’ll sense a new freedom and liberty.

WORDS ARE NEVER NEUTRAL, THEY EITHER SPEAK LIFE OR DEATH

Conversely, there are many scriptures that speak of the power of uplifting positive encouraging words, (words of life).

Proverbs 12:18 The tongue of the wise promotes health.

Proverbs !5:4 A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it (the tongue), breaks the spirit.

Proverbs 31:10-31 (speaking of the attributes of God’s ideal woman). Verse 26 (Amp).

She opens her mouth in skillful and Godly wisdom and on her tongue is the law of kindness.

Take a moment to recall how you feel when someone speaks genuine words of love, encouragement and kindness to you. Why, I bet you feel you could ‘leap a tall building in a single bound’. In that moment you feel valuable, respected and validated. Such is the power of words spoken – you leave that person’s presence with fresh hope in your heart and the will to continue on in this journey called life. None of us know the time or hour of our departure from this earth. If today was my last day on earth what words have I’ve spoken to or about those I love and those in my wider sphere of influence?

Why not make a decision that from this day on, by the grace of God, we will be aware of the effects of our words on others – that we will CHOOSE to speak only words that will uplift and encourage. When we are sorely pressed or provoked to anger, we would ask God to help us respond as He would have us respond. (I have never seen two angry people hammering away the same time resolve anything, but if one will CHOOSE to respond with a soft response, it can diffuse the most volatile argument).

Proverbs 15:1 A soft answer turns away (dissipates) wrath but grievous words stir up anger.

Proverbs 25:15b …soft gentle speech breaks down the most bonelike resistance.

A SOFT OR RESTRAINED RESPONSE IS NOT WEAKNESS, BUT MEEKNESS, (CONTROLLED STRENGTH, HUMILITY AND STRENGTH IN GENTLENESS)

What a difference we can make if we humbly ask God to bridle our tongue, to overshadow the words we speak BEFORE they come forth! If we would take a moment to ask ourselves “Is there life or death in the words I am about to speak?” If we would consider the effects BEFORE we pass on a negative report, speak ill of a family member, neighbor or any other person.

I pray that as I leave these thoughts with you, that the precious HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD will help each one of us to apply these biblical nuggets of gold in all of our relationships.