The Power Of Words
In today’s world, words appear to carry little weight. “Stick and stones may break my bones, but words… can never hurt me!”
Oh really now?
Proverbs 18:21
[20] A man’s stomach is filled with the fruit of his mouth.
With the harvest of his lips he is satisfied.
[21] Death and life are in the power of the tongue;
those who love it will eat its fruit.
Except in very rare exceptions, hunger is not a totally painless experience. Neither is death. Yet, according to the Proverbs, your words carry the power to keep you satisfied, and to give you life.
So why waste words?
Every word you speak carries unfathomable weight of power to it. Especially if you are a reborn child of God. The Bible says that God upholds the world by the Word of His Power:
Hebrews 1:3
[3] His Son is the radiance of his glory, the very image of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purified us of our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
…and that very Jesus lives within you. To give you an understanding of just how powerful the latent energy within you is, just consider this:
One cubic centimeter of empty space, contains more zero-point energy than 100 suns!
Of course, this doesn’t mean that when you speak, you will always see the immediate effects. Much of the power that really exists around us is invisible, and in many ways seems to be intangible, but it all has an effect. Likewise, your words carry the power to make and break your life and the lives of others.
In fact, it is quite likely that your words or the words of someone else in your life have gotten you to the place you are at today:
Matthew 12:33
[33] “Either make the tree good, and its fruit good, or make the tree corrupt, and its fruit corrupt; for the tree is known by its fruit.
[34] You offspring of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.
[35] The good man out of his good treasure brings out good things, and the evil man out of his evil treasure brings out evil things.
[36] I tell you that every idle word that men speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgement.
[37] For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
– Jesus
Watch Your Words
Are you a frequent “Buzz Word” flyer? And no, I don’t mean “buzz-words” in the typical sense. I mean, do you love to speak words of negativity that leave others with a buzzing feeling of darkness hanging over them? Or do you use positive words with liberality, and build up those who hear them?
Whichever camp you identify by – watch your words. Parents, speak well of and well to- your children. Not only when you are in the presence of others and looking to impress them, but all the time – especially when speaking directly to your children. Husbands and wives, the same goes to you, and for everyone else, no matter your standing or walk of life, remember to choose your words wisely. If you can’t think of anything useful or meaningful to say, maybe it’s best to just keep your mouth closed. Hum or whistle, if you have to. Even sing a song if that’s what it takes, but don’t let the “Buzz Words” fly.