Devotional - the power of words
With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be." (NIV)
James 3: 9-10
Hi,
I’ve been thinking a lot about how I’ve been using my words lately and I’m amazed how I can be offering support and blessing in one moment and then adding my unsolicited judgments and personal critiques in the next.
Have you noticed that when we’re in a challenging or toxic situation or an environment where others are complaining or rehashing old wounds, there is a seductive spirit that comes very close? It senses our vulnerability to sin and it tempts us to dig up old feelings, convincing us that it will feel “good” to contribute part of our “story” to the conversation.
We all know that feeling, I’m sure… where we stand at the threshold between the truth of our new, fully healed identity in Christ and the enemy’s lie that there is still something lurking in our hearts which has yet to be satisfied.
God is reminding us today that there is nothing we need that He cannot satisfy.
The words we speak have incredible power and influence. Few forces have a greater impact than the utterances that pass our lips. Our words can embolden a child to accomplish great feats, encourage a husband to conquer the world, reignite the dying embers of a friend’s broken dreams, cheer on a fellow believer to run the race of life, and draw a lost soul to Christ. But our words can equally assist the enemy in keeping us (and others) stuck in an endless loop of self-serving pride and resentment.
I invite you to take a moment to breathe and reflect about the contribution your words have made recently, both positive and negative… ask God to give you insight into what He wants you to change or improve.
When you are ready, please join me in this prayer:
Lord, please help me to control my tongue today. Help me to speak words of life to those around me. I want to be an encourager and not a discourager; a builder of dreams rather than a destroyer of destinies. I pray the Holy Spirit will help me be known as a person who speaks life into those around me.
In Jesus’s Name,
Amen.
How will you use the incredible gift of words God has given you today?
(Today’s post was inspired/adapted from a devotional on You Version called “The Power of a Woman’s Words” by Sharon Jaynes)
With love,
Tracy & Born to Fly team