Words are Powerful - Russ Isom
The average person speaks 16,000 words a day. That is a lot of words crossing our lips and entering the ears of others. There are times when I speak too quickly. In those cases, I should have thought more carefully about how those words were going to sound to the person hearing them. Often, I speak to defend myself or make myself look good. That is selfish. Words are powerful! They can be used to hurt others: “That was a dumb thing to do.” “You will never amount to any good.” Those statements are painful and certainly not encouraging. Remember the saying: “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” I believe that statement is not true. Words can hurt. Words can leave scars. Proverbs 12:18 says “Thoughtless words can wound as deeply as any sword, but wisely spoken words can heal.” Once I say a hurtful word, I can never make things as if it had never been uttered. It is like the wound from a sword. The wound may heal, but your body will not be as if the sword had never cut you. The scar remains. However, wisely spoken words can heal! Everyone loves to hear words of affirmation: “You did a great job on that project.” “You are a kind person.” “Thank you for your encouragement.” These words inspire us. Words are like food for us; we need them to live. Most of us can remember, years later, the words from a book or said by a friend or teacher, that “turned on a light,” or implanted new ideas we never forgot. I want to have the attitude that the Apostle Paul referred to in Philippians 2:3-5. “Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Do not look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.” “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” Psalm 19:14 A prayer for us to remember this week: Father, help me guard my lips so that I do not wound someone Russ Isom |
deeply with rash words. Give me empathetic eyes to see all the people around me who are eager for words of blessing and affirmation. I am often too distracted to deliberately praise and appreciate people every day. Help me, Lord, to find ways to speak words of encouragement to someone each day. |