The Power of Words

Words have the potential to be so powerful.  They can lift you up or tear you down. An example that came to my mind a while ago is...You take individual letters, things that when standing alone are like an arrow. String some of those letters together and they can form words that are like an arrow when it’s poised in a bow, honing its power and precision.  The direction and impact of that arrow—or those words—is crucial.  They can either shoot an apple of your head, lifting off burdens—the weight of “disappointment”, “failure”, “loss” so you can walk lighter with assurance of the encouragement you received or they can pierce you right where it hurts—casting those same feelings onto you and placing more apples on your head, weighing you down. How are we using our words? To lift up or weigh down?

This is something that I have wrote that I've been meaning to finish for a while.  It's something that came to mind when I was contemplating just how impactful words can be and how this is talked about through out the Bible. One verse that is pertinent is Proverbs 12:18 "There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing."

The power of words.

Have you ever had your body physically react to words?

It’s crazy isn't it?

Feeling your heart react--

with each consequence beat of your heart pumping either healing or damage.

Words are versatile:

They have the power to impale your heart like rocks, bashing against skin

and the capacity to soothe your soul like warm honey in a cup of hot tea.

Harsh words, 

Feeling the pain sink in – self esteem, self worth, and dignity shrinking with each word that is spit.

There is no discrimination in dissemination—in the size or amount. 

Even the tiniest word can do heart tearing damage.

How do you stand?

How do you defend?

By constant blows to the heart—bleeding out; a brawl you don’t want to contend in.

Bend in, perceptions bent—twisted like rope 

Each word pulling tighter, a knot around your throat.

Grasping for air, reaching for meaning.

Feeling the words trap you as you start to recede in…

Believe in, the lies—like concrete—slowly poured in your heart

Makes you heavy, weighs you down

To where the perception of yourself is far from who you are

Hurtful words block your vision, keeping you from moving forward

So you sit back, it sinks in, as lies continue to eat at the scar.

It’s like tying a stone around your heart—filled with concrete lies and torment and tossing you into the ocean.

It sinks.

You drown.

Hearing muffled voices above with the harsh words reverberating in your mind all around

That one moment of “humor”, “anger”, or “blame” can lead to someone’s lifetime of pain

Like a pebble lodged right under your foot—painfully reminding you with each step you take

Words can squeeze your heart like a stress ball and toss it around the same

Leaving you hunched over trying to pick up the pieces while holding onto the remains

Proverbs 18:21 says, "death and life are in the power of the tongue"

So I'm begging, let's bring life in our words that are sung

One kind word can be the string of hope someone holds onto

Lifting them out of the burden they were dug in

Holding so tight to words of true meaning:

Their meaning, their worth, their place in this world

Words have the power to break chains of bondage:

of doubt, of fear, of self-pity, of addiction, of shame

Letting them know they are not the one to blame.

At the end of the day what it comes down to is that we all need love

To build each other up through our choice of words,

to put simply--healing.

Words can speak life to our souls, 

shaking off cobwebs, chains, bringing light to this world.

Loving words can have your heart feel lighter then air

Offering encouragement, compliments, hope and care
The filth and shame from words of hurt can be gently washed away in the softness of kindness
This world wants to destroy, let us rise up to build up.
Guiding with kindness a path to the true cup
Speaking truth from His word,
watching years of turmoil melt away in the eyes of someone who is listening
Who is craving to hear they are something
Aren't we all?
Aren't we all craving? Aren't we all something?
But are we all listening?
James 1:19 commands us to be quick to listen and slow to speak
Only when we truly listen will we have the proper words to reap
a harvest, watering the soul of someone who needs it
Washing, cleaning, and binding up wounds
Healing and restoring to how He intends
as the body of Christ that is what we are called to do
So let us speak to each other in a way that renews.