Most of you probably heard the popular adage growing up “Sticks and Stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me.” Honestly, I think teachers and parents used this saying so children would not be so sensitive to things the other children say. I know from teaching elementary school for twenty-three years that many children say things out of their own hurt not understanding the impact it will have on others. As children mature to adulthood, if the hurts have not been dealt with this can still be true. And often to complicate the problem, the harsh words or names are turned inward into negative self talk. However, I think the lesson here is that the adage is not true. Words can definitely wound and hurt, and if not dealt with, can leave lasting scars.
Why is it that words are so impactful? Genesis 1 describes how God created the world. Do you know how He created the world? He spoke it into being. He used the power of His words to create the entire universe. Genesis 1:26 (NKJV) says, “Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness…” So if God created the world with the spoken word and then created us in His image wouldn’t our words carry power as well?
Proverbs 18:21 (NKJV) says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit. The Message Bible says it this way, “Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit-you choose.” That is pretty straightforward. In our everyday life, when we speak, we have the ability to create death or create life. When we speak over our family, are we speaking death or life? When we speak to our children, are we speaking death or life? When we speak about our job, are we speaking death or life? When we are speaking about our health, are we speaking death or life? When we are speaking into any of our circumstances, are we speaking death or life? We have the ability to speak death into our situations or speak life into our situations.
The choice of speaking death or life seems pretty obvious, so why do we sometimes struggle? I personally believe that anything that comes out of our mouth has to have originated in our hearts and minds first. Our hearts and minds are affected by the sources we choose to plug into. Are we plugged into death or life? Whose voices are we listening to? Think of the things you listen to during the day whether it be music, media, or other people. Are those things speaking death or life?
James 3:10-12(The Passion Translation) says, “Out of the same mouth we pour out words of praise one minute and curses the next. My brothers and sisters, this should never be! Would you look for olives hanging on a fig tree or go to pick figs from a grapevine? Is it possible that fresh and bitter water can flow out the same spring? So neither can a bitter spring produce fresh water.” We need to be connected to the proper source in order to produce the best fruit or fresh water.
Given a choice, I think we would all choose to speak life not death over our situations, loved ones, health and so on. However, I think in order to continuously speak life, we need to be filled continually with the Holy Spirit. In order to have the words of life constantly flowing through us, we need to learn to abide in Christ. John 15:5 (TPT) says, “I am the sprouting vine and you’re my branches. As you live in union with me as your source, fruitfulness will stream from within you – but when you live separated from me you are powerless.” All of our fruitfulness comes from abiding in Jesus. When we abide in Him and let Him abide in us, it will be natural to speak life. Verse 9 says “I love each of you with the same love that the Father loves me. You must continually let my love nourish your hearts.” Jesus is showing us how He lives and is inviting us to live the same way. If you think about it, it is pretty amazing. Jesus says I abide in my Father’s love. I let His love nourish and strengthen my heart, and because of that, I can love you with the same love the Father loves me. Once Jesus shows us how He lives, He continues with an invitation of “let my love nourish your hearts.” He doesn’t say once you show me you are adequate or are worthy then I will love you. He says let my love nourish your hearts.
Jesus knows that apart from abiding in Him we are powerless. He knows that even when the choice is obvious, that if we are not abiding in Him or allowing HIs love to nourish our hearts, then an obvious choice becomes a difficult choice. Jesus only speaks life over us. His desire is that none shall perish. And He not only invites us to speak life over ourselves and others, He shows us how that is possible. If we are plugged into Jesus, then we will not have to try and make it happen. Life will naturally flow through us.
Remember friend, God’s deepest desire is to be connected to you. He gave everything He had in order to make that happen. God is always for us and never against us. He has invited us to abide with Him and allow His love to nourish our hearts. Once we allow Him to do that, speaking life over ourselves and others will not be difficult.
We should speak to others as though we are writing the words on their foreheads. Words damage far more deeply than sticks and stones. Great reminder to use words to heal and build up those around us!
Well said! 🙂