Fearlessly Courageous
Desk of Dennis Piller
3/24/2022
A Deceitful and Negative Tongue Crushes the Spirit.
I can remember times of helping one of my children with their homework and they just weren’t getting it. My frustration grew with the repetition of my answers. And I started the sentence, How many times… I choked off the rest of the sentence because they were even more frustrated than I was. They came for help because they needed help. I was tired, a bit annoyed to have to help after work and my patience was thin. BUT my words…my tone… could either bring encouragement or destruction of a fragile ego, a sensitive spirit, an innocent who only wanted to learn but I didn’t have the patience or intellect to help them in the right way. But how often have we spurted out our frustrations in words aimed at their inability to pick something up as quickly as we think they should?
The truth is we can apply that same question to any relationship we have. Our spouses, siblings, parents, friends. Words bring life or death by
the power of the tongue.
Prov 18:21 Some will carry some of those words…those scars for a lifetime. We MUST ask God to help us be better with our words.
Proverbs 15:4 “Gentle words bring life and health; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.”
Proverbs 16:24 “Kind words are like honey-sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.” Proverbs 18:4 “A person's words can be life-giving water; words of true wisdom are as refreshing as a bubbling brook.”
What are gracious words? The Hebrews defines them as “merciful, compassionate or soft-hearted.” Simply put, they are grace-filled, gentle words that always seek to bring healing
Even the secular world knows about the power of the tongue. As author Yehuda Berg states, “Words are singularly the most powerful force available to humanity… Words have energy and power with the ability to help, to heal, to hurt, to harm, to humiliate and to humble.” The words we choose and how we use them can build others up or tear them down; bring the community together or tear it apart.”
In researching the power of words it seemed unanimous for Christians and non-Christians alike. Let me quote some of the more popular views:
Words have power. Their meaning crystallizes perceptions that shape our beliefs, drive our behavior, and ultimately, create our world. Their power arises from our emotional responses when we read, speak, or hear them.
Words are more powerful than actions. With words you can influence someone into thinking something, it is the way we communicate and learn. Actions can cause physical pain to us and force us to undergo a certain circumstance but words can actually take over our body.
We live in a linguistic world: Linguistics is the systematic study of the structure and evolution of human language, and it is applicable to every aspect of human endeavor.
The Bible is very clear to all of us. Those with an ear…let them listen!
Do not confess those negative thoughts in your mind, rather speak life to every situation around you (Proverbs 30:32). Speak good to your spouse, children, home, church and you will see the fruits germinating.
Our words bring life and death we see it all around us. We know that, but too many are too loose with their tongue. Their language is vile, profane, angry, judgemental. They have lost their way. They are not peacemakers, not gentle, not forgivers by nature. And that includes too many Christians.
Begin by asking forgiveness. Tell your family members how much you love and appreciate them. If you don't feel comfortable doing it with words, ask God to help you. Ask him to change you. He will. Spend some time with God!
Toby Mac Speak Life
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeBv9r92VQ0
