The Power of Words

FRESH Official Podcast

If only we realised the power of our words. I heard someone say once that words are containers of power. The things we say to others can either bring life or death, truly.

I was watching a speaker on YouTube recently talking about this very thing. He told the story of his best friend who’d always sought his father’s approval. But Dad was a hard taskmaster and never once encouraged his son.

Finally, when this friend was at university, he scored straight A’s in all his subjects. Surely now, my father will say, “Well done son.” Surely now, he’d receive the approval that he so deeply craved. So, excited, he rang Dad and started to blurt out his good news.

Dad’s response? “I’m busy right now. I’ll call you back.” He never did, at which point the man just gave up. He turned to drugs and alcohol and not long after, died of an overdose. The point that this speaker made was this: your mouth can spit venom or it can heal a wounded soul. Which is exactly God’s point:

Proverbs 18:21 The tongue can speak words that bring life or death. Those who love to talk must be ready to accept what it brings.

What does your tongue speak? Are you ready to accept the consequences of your words? Let me say it again … words are containers of power – power for good or power for evil. If only we realised day-to-day, you and I, the power of our words. The power to hurt or to heal.

The tongue can speak words that bring life or death. Those who love to talk must be ready to accept what it brings.

That’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.