Our Words Are Powerful

 Anyone remember hearing this as a child: 

"If you have nothing nice to say, don't say anything at all"?

Boy - I sure do! What is even more true in my adulthood is that what is said is not limited to childhood pranks in the sandbox or sibling rivalry. Perhaps it is the way the medication I take to ensure hormones are depleted so my chances of having recurrence of breast cancer is reduced, but I find that I am more easily offended by WORDS. Does not matter the location I am in (work, store, neighborhood, public events, etc.), words I hear are like fingernails on chalkboard if they are not clean/wholesome words. This reaction surprises me for two reasons: 1) I am not so innocent that some of the words or jokes I hear have not been heard before and 2) I suddenly do not know how to process the offense that rises up in me.

When I accepted Jesus as my personal Savior in 2000, I knew that I was going to need to make some changes in how I spoke and behaved for the simple fact that I was a new creature in Christ - and ugliness, ungodliness, and vulgarity cannot coexist with His righteousness at all. Just look at what happened when just an overinflated ego reared up in Heaven - the devil and those who aligned with him were cast out. Sure, maybe not exactly alike - but I dare you to think on it for a bit. I bet you will discover that anything that is not in agreement with God's design and economy cannot enter into His presence.

“Don’t let your mouth make a total sinner of you. When called to account, you won’t get by with “Sorry, I didn’t mean it”. Why risk provoking God to angry retaliation.” – Ecc. 5:6 MSG

As a survivor of abuse, I have deep scars from the injury words alone did to my heart and soul. Get told enough times that you are worthless and nobody will love you - it becomes reality. Of course, it did not help that all the years I experienced as a victim of bullying in my youth predisposed me to accept how my ex-husband spoke to me and about me as 'normal'. Truly thought I did not deserve better - until I finally surrendered to the One Who knew me beyond just my DNA, He knew my spirit, my soul, my heart.

“Watch the way you talk. Let nothing foul or dirty come out of your mouth. Say only what helps, each word a gift.” Eph. 4:29 MSG

Recently, I have been on receiving end of some words that the person speaking likely intended in 'good fun' to just get a reaction (at least that is what many have stated to me) that just leave me wondering how to process correctly. It does not help much when most of what I hear is anchored by expletives on the daily - I mean, you would think I was on a Naval ship or something [swearing like sailors]. Again, in the past, these things would not have ruffled my feathers much at all. Just now...WOW!

“Put away from you a deceitful (lying, misleading) mouth, and put devious lips away from you.” 

Prov. 4:24 AMP

“Let there be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse (obscene or vulgar) joking, because such things are not appropriate (for believers); but instead speak of your thankfulness [to God].” – Eph. 5:4 AMP

“But now rid yourselves (completely) of all these things: anger, rage, malice, slander, and obscene (abusive, filthy, vulgar) language from your mouth.” – Col. 3:8 AMP

Many years ago I heard someone say that what you put in is what will come out (eventually if not immediately) - and the catch phrase was 'garbage in, garbage out'. No words could ever be more truthful in the society we live in today. Children are not taught how to be respectful. Adults don't want to 'adult' 98% of the time - guess they have a Peter Pan mindset and would rather not grow up. My parents were very clear with myself and my siblings that if we said anything viewed as obscene/vulgar or dirty a bar of soap would quickly find its way into the mouth of the one who spoke it. Part of me knows that they'd still do it to us now in our middle years (all three of us are in our 50s)!

Perhaps I am just getting more sensitive to words and behaviors that just are not wholesome or appropriate because I find it of no value to be rude, vulgar, disrespectful when those things do not result in blessings or good character development. I have a quote on my wall that says 'Knowledge with give you power, but good character will give you respect' - guess I prefer having the respect of others than not. Crazy, huh?

“It is not what goes into the mouth of a man that defiles and dishonors him, but what comes out of the mouth, this is what defiles and dishonors him.; But whatever word comes out of the mouth comes from the heart, and this is what defiles and dishonors the man.” Matt. 15: 11 & 18

BE BLESSED & BE A BLESSING ~

Wendy