The Power of Words: Speaking Life
“When we replace negative thinking with thoughts aligned with the truth of God's word, we wield a spiritual tool that actively shifts our mindset towards a more positive and hopeful perspective.”
Lauren Stanback
The tongue has power over life and death; those who indulge it must eat its fruit. PROVERBS 18:21
Have you ever thought about the words that come out of your mouth? I'm embarrassed to say that for years I didn't. A self-confessed perfectionist, I found it second nature to be critical of myself (and secretly others, if I'm being honest). Phrases like: "I'm so stupid." "I'm too fat!" And the always popular "What's wrong with me?" were my daily affirmations.
Perhaps your tongue isn't as critical as mine was, but we've all been guilty of throwing our words around carelessly. They're tossed like seeds and then firmly take root, eventually bearing fruit. Now, regardless of whether the fruit is enjoyable or rotten, we're left with no choice but to eat it!
Meaning, there's responsibility in choosing our words. When we use our words wisely, we reap the benefits of our speech. Encouraging ourselves with scripture or a thoughtful compliment to a coworker might seem trivial or even extra to some. But a wise believer knows these are seeds that give life, and the more they're watered, the more our confidence grows, our well-being improves, and we cultivate stronger relationships.
However, while uplifting words can revive us, hurtful criticism, gossip, and malicious talk can wreck our self-esteem and even damage our reputation. And these days, it's not just the words coming out of our mouths that need careful consideration. The words that we post online require just as much wisdom. One defamatory social media post is all it takes to destroy someone's life or their mental stability. Watch the news for a few minutes (if you can stomach it). There's more than enough evidence to confirm that what comes out of our mouths or what we, recklessly, post for the world to see has the power to kill or give life.
Ephesians 4:29 says, "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."
That last part is noteworthy. That it may benefit those who listen. Another word for benefit is value. That means our speech holds value! So, whether you're an influencer addressing her followers, a manager addressing her team, or a mom addressing her children, our words are valued by others. They should uplift and encourage those who hear them. Instead of speaking negativity, destruction, and the enemy's lies, we must start actively speaking the word of God and His promises in our thoughts and lives.
Our words frame our thoughts. And when we frame our world with God's promises, we will certainly produce results. Changing our thoughts changes our speech and, in turn, our actions. When we replace negative thinking with thoughts aligned with the truth of God's word, we wield a spiritual tool that actively shifts our mindset towards a more positive and hopeful perspective.
So, what are some ways we can start speaking life over ourselves and others today?
For those of us who need uplifting, we can start declaring scripture daily over ourselves. The book of Romans teaches that "faith comes by hearing." Instead of repeatedly bashing ourselves and ultimately believing negativity, we can replace it with something like, "I am fearfully (awesomely) made and one of God's wondrous works," as it says in Psalm 139. It won't be long before we believe God's truth over one that's flawed.
What about those of us who love sharing our opinions online? The THINK acronym is a useful tool to recall before posting our personal views or feelings:
T: Is what you're saying true?
H: Is what you're saying helpful?
I: Is what you're saying inspiring?
N: Is what you're saying necessary?
K: Is what you're saying kind?
Critical of others? Let's remember that we all have faults and fall short at times. Christians are called to lead the way in offering grace to others when they make mistakes, like the Father continually, does for us. Let's replace criticism with words of kindness but with intentionality behind them. It's easy to toss out a few words and hope they land. It's a lot harder to be thoughtful and specific.
But how can we be thoughtful and specific? How can we know what to say that will truly uplift someone and give them life? Notice the passage in Ephesians mentions building others up according to their needs? I'm sorry, introverts, but to accomplish this, we'll have to get to know the people around us better so that we'll know what is uniquely beneficial to them!
As we communicate daily, keep in mind that "words create worlds." But what kind of world are we creating? As Christians, let's use our words to create a world filled with love, framed by God's promises, that makes a positive impact on ourselves and those around us.
