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!