Pessimist or Optimist

By Paula Williamson, guest writer

Do we really believe our words are powerful and that they affect the environment around us? Have you ever been in the presence of someone who walked in, vented, and left you feeling as if they had vomited on you? What comes out of our mouths? Are the words we speak doing good in the world around us, or tearing it down? Scripture tells us that God created the world with His words and that we were created in His image. JAMES 3:10 Out of the same mouth come blessings and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.

There is a great movie starring George Clooney that drives this truth home, called Tomorrow Land. It’s about how our words and thoughts can change the world. What a powerful idea! It’s more than that. It’s the truth, supported by numerous scriptures in the Bible.

It Is Written

PROVERBS 13:3 The one who guards his mouth preserves his life; the one who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.

Words Create

Our words go forth and accomplish something. One day, while I was cleaning a fish aquarium and humming, my humming stopped, and I felt something ugly surrounding me. Minutes later, my neighbor came over, furious. She had been shopping at the neighborhood grocery and overheard two women spreading untrue gossip about me. She confronted them indignantly, saying they obviously did not know me. Although I was at home doing my household chores, I felt the impact of their words. Our words matter. If we want to live a good life and use our words to make a positive difference, we must guard what comes out of our mouths.

Prayer

Lord, set a guard upon my mouth. I do not want to stand before You at life's end and give an account for words that harmed others, slandered, tore down, or fostered pessimism and negativity in the world. Use my mouth to bless, encourage, build up, restore, motivate, and bring about life and beauty.

Takeaway

Our words have power.