Sticks & Stones

By Paula Williamson guest writer

Whoever came up with the phrase, “Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me didn’t know what they were talking about! Words are powerful! They can encourage a downcast soul to live again or wound a heart like a sword. No weapon in the world can impact a soul for good or evil the way words can.

It Is Written

JAMES 3:10  Out of the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. These things, my brothers, should not be this way [for we have a moral obligation to speak in a manner that reflects our fear of God and profound respect for His precepts].

Speak Life

For every power tool, there are instructions and warnings we read and practice, but for our mouths, most of us have not read the instruction manual found in the third chapter of James. Horses are guided by bits and ships with rudders, but our mouths and tongues speak things that discourage others, cut them down, spread doubt and fear. Why? When we hold such power, why would we not use it to complement, to inspire, to encourage, to empower, to build the self-esteem of another human being in need?

What do you want to leave behind when you exit this world? How do you want to be remembered?

Takeaway

The power of life and death is in our tongue!