Have you thought about your words lately? We just had our annual ladies conference this past weekend and the theme was Words of Life. Our words are very powerful. They can speak life or death to the spirit of another person. They can edify or destroy. They can encourage or discourage. They can boost or bury someone.
In preparation for the conference I enjoyed reading The Power of a Woman's Words by Sharon Jaynes. Here are some of the interesting observations she makes about our words:
Our words are a reflection of what we are looking for in people, circumstances, and life. p. 38
A person may not be as good as you tell her she is, but she'll try harder thereafter. p. 41
In the average home, ten negative comments are made for every positive one. Also, it takes four positive comments to counteract one negative comment. p. 53
Parents become the mirrors from which their children see themselves. p. 61
Treat a man as he appears to be, and you make him worse. But treat a man as if he already were what he potentially could be, and you make him what he should be. (Goethe). p. 64-65
In James, chapter 3, we learn that the tongue is impossible to tame, unruly, evil, full of deadly poison. I am thankful that God is more powerful than my tongue and can give me the wisdom and help I need to control it and use it for good in the lives of those around me.
In Philippians 4:13 God gives us the promise that we can do ALL things through his strength. I can even speak life!
So live that you wouldn't be ashamed to sell the family parrot to the town gossip. – Will Rogers
The book study and then the conference have given me a greater and more present consciousness of the words I am speaking and the effect they will have in the lives of my loved ones.
How about you? Are you claiming God's strength to use your powerful words to speak life, grace and encouragement to those you get to speak to each day?
Here are two books I recommend if you'd like to do your own study on speaking life.
- The Power of a Woman's Words by Sharon Jaynes
- Learning to Speak Life by my friends Michael & Carlie Kercheval