THE POWER OF WORDS
Words have so much power. They can give you hope and inspiration or they can tear you down and leave you in tears. I know right now that each of you can think of at least one person who has lifted you up and made you believe that you could do anything. Unfortunately, there is also probably someone you know who has said things to you that has made you doubt yourself and your abilities. That person might even be yourself.
What we tell ourselves is sometimes rooted deep in our soul. Did you see the movie, The Help? In the movie, the housekeeper/nanny would tell her charge to repeat these words over and over to herself: “You is Kind. You is Smart. You is Important.” She was instilling that belief in the soul of that child so that later on in life she would always remember who she was.
The Lord has also given us many Bible verses regarding the use of our words. The book of Proverbs is full of instructions regarding our words.
- Proverbs 11: 6 The words of the wicked are, “Lie in wait for blood,” But the mouth of the upright will deliver them.
- Proverbs 11:18 There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, But the tongue of the wise promotes health.
- Proverbs 15: 1-2 A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger. 2 The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness.
- Proverbs 15:4 A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, But perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
- Proverbs 16:24 Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.
- Proverbs 18: 20-21 From the fruit of their mouth a person’s stomach is filled; with the harvest of their lips they are satisfied. 21 The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
I know we have all heard the saying from children that goes: “Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.” I bet most of you already know that this saying is not true. We can recover and heal from broken bones but we might NEVER heal from some words. You are not good enough, You’ll never be as pretty as your sister, You are not that smart, No one will ever love you, and on and on and on. The problem is that even though the words are NOT true, we tuck them away in our mind and they come back to visit us and put doubt in our hearts.
Overcoming doubt and years of hurt is not instantaneous but it can be done. BUT, it starts with you, you have to be the one who moves forward. Instead of “you are not good enough” you need to look in the mirror and say out loud, “I AM ENOUGH” instead of “you’ll never be pretty” you need to repeat, “I AM PRETTY,” “I AM SMART,” “I AM LOVEABLE!!!” The Lord already thinks this, now it is time for you to think this also.
I have my own insecurities that I need to work on. These have not been said to me, they are self-imposed. You have probably seen me say that I am shy. I also say things like, I am not a good writer, I am not good at public speaking, etc. Every time I have said those words, I am just re-enforcing those thoughts in my mind. Instead, I am going to say, “I am personable,” “I am improving every day as a writer,” “I can do public speaking.”
I might not make myself have six-pack abs by saying it into the mirror but I can say, “today I will eat healthily” or “I will find the time to exercise.” If you find yourself saying, “I am not” just stop right there. The Lord made you to be enough. He believes in you, you are perfectly made.
Have A Blessed Day!
Love this! Thank you so much for your Sunday posts!
That was incredible I’m so true of what I need to do in my life. Thank you for always sharing your wisdom and faith!
Tania, Your blog first caught my eye a year or so ago because my maiden name was Stephens. 🙂 Now I follow you because I enjoy your fashion tips. I also follow you because of the humor and the hope I read. My handsome and brilliant son Tyler was diagnosed with a brain tumor nearly a year ago in October 2016. The location of the tumor makes it too dangerous to even biopsy therefore we don’t know if it’s malignant although it’s not thought to be. It is however in an area of the brain that any surgery would leave him with too much collateral damage and that makes it inoperable. He suffers constant headaches and seizures. If they cannot get the seizures under control with medication, then it’s recommended to do surgery and through some other very sophisticated testing, Tyler has had a glimpse at what he would be left with cognitively and he chooses not to live like that. (I won’t go into all the details but if there’s anyone out there battling similarily and wants to know more, please find me on facebook- Patti Boatwright Tuscumbia, AL and I’ll share with you a private page I’ve set up,)
As all us momma’s can imagine, I think about this night and day. But every morning I have a short respite as I look at your blog. For a moment, I feel like a “normal” over 50. Thanks for that.
Tyler lives in California and so far he refuses to come stay with his family. He’s a 32 year old grown man (single) and I can’t force him so I’m left to watch this process from afar. I do all I can to help him but that’s mostly just pray, research and send him money as I can. He had to stop working months ago and lving in LA is quite expensive. I will appreciate any prayers your readers can offer my son.
God bless you, Tania. The Good Lord uses you to help us smile. Hugs.
Patti, my heart goes out to you. I cannot even begin to know how you feel. It sounds like you are blessed with a wonderful and strong son that I know you are worried sick about. I will put you and your family in my prayers.
Thank you for the reminder 🙂
What a beautiful lesson! Thank you dear friend!
Tania I just read Climbing your Mountain. Thank you so much for the inspirational words.??
You are such a gifted writer. You have a special way of penning words that penetrate one’s heart. Be blessed!
Thank you for reminding me how special we are in God’s eyes. That reminder may help me let go of some of my own insecurities. If you can do that for people you have never met, you must be one heck of a good writer!
I was told once by someone I love that “you can’t do anything right”. That simple phrase stabbed me in the heart and I’ve never forgotten it. I struggle with it everyday. Thank you for the reminder that I need to lift myself up and not allow myself to be torn down by others, no matter how much I may love them.
Wow, Tania, your message today is spot on! If you ever feel a need for an additional career, you should consider motivational speaking (ha!). You do have a gift of speaking from your heart as the Lord gives it to you and I appeciate it very much. Have a blessed day!
Very true! Thanks for posting!
Good morning, Wonderful Girl,
How did YOU know that I needed your sweet words, today? That sometimes when you do all that you can, the best you can possibly do, that you walk away feeling that it’s never enough?
Oh, how I needed YOUR kind words! Thank you for helping to lift my spirits, that I may fly a little higher, today!
YOU is kind! YOU is smart! YOU IS IMPORTANT to ME, too! You’re WONDERFUL! ❤️
So true, Tania! Have a blessed day!
Thank you for such a wonderful message.
Thank you Tania, this is just what I needed to hear today.
Your a wonderful writer! you spoke to me im guilty of be filled with self doubt . Thank you for the remind that Im good enough! Have a wonderful sunday !
Wow Tania thank you for this awesome reminder of how special we all are and how much we have to offer. This really hit home! I know that I struggle with self doubt and self esteem every day.
Great message, Tania! Not an easy thing to do but thanks for the reminder and the encouragement.
Thank you Tania for your encouraging words and scriptures. So true….~Lisa~
Beautiful Tania! You ARE a good writer! The words you used brought tears to my eyes. Thank you for the reminder that when I’m insecure, I need to remember that the Lord has faith in me.