The Life Giving Power of Words -- PLUS the Winner of This Month's Book-Give-Away

Sardis Methodist Church -- where I went to church as a little girl and sang in the children's choir

The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.  John 6:63

One of the benefits of my Southern Protestant heritage is that I know all the words of all the songs in the hymnal by heart.  I’ve sung them hundreds of times—heard them pounded out loud on the piano every line and verse.  I remember walking down a dirt road as a child singing hymns at the top of my lungs without a care in the world.

Sing them over again to me,

Wonderful words of Life;

Let me more of their beauty see,

Wonderful words of Life. ~Philip P. Bliss

We learned the absolute life-giving value of the Word of God  incorporated into the songs we sung and found in the Holy Bible (also learned verses by heart, weekly, from colored index cards).

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. Matthew 24:35

There’s much recorded in the Scripture about words—not only God’s Word, but the words we speak and the power of the tongue.

Think about it for a second and you will remember kind words spoken to you that ministered peace as sweet as a sip of iced tea.  Likewise, you will remember harsh words spoken that struck your heart like fiery darts.  You might even recall hurtful things you've said to others.

Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.  Proverbs 18:21

We’ve all experienced the consequences of  idle chatter—backbiting, gossip—our own as well as that of others.  It’s hurtful.  It tears a person down.

 Jesus condemned it.

But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak they will give account of it in the Day of Judgment.  Matthew 12:36

I tried to speak some life-giving words this week to  someone  who was crying because of careless words that had been spoken to her—words that had hurt her heart, making her feel good-for-nothing and unloved. 

I took my time before I spoke, carefully choosing the few words that I thought might offer her hope, build her up, and minister God’s grace like a healing balm to her open wound. 

 I know I must resolve to always be so careful with my words.  They are powerful.

 

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.  Ephesians 4:29

Please consider leaving a comment on today's blog.  I love to hear from you.

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Now to announce the winner of Alice Wisler's devotional Getting Out of Bed in the Morning: Reflections of Comfort in Heartache.  Congratulations to Kathleen Belongia who is our winner.  Thanks to all of you who participated.  Alice and I both were thrilled to read all your kind and encouraging comments. May God's grace be with you all.