Words are a powerful thing.
Words have the ability to BLESS another…to inject the LIFE of God.
Words also have the ability to CURSE another…to inject hurt and ultimately DEATH.
Words can literally change a person’s life. In some way or another, we can all attest to that. All of us have our own stories of words that have been said to us that have changed the trajectory of our lives. Maybe someone spoke words that inspired or motivated you to do something you weren’t sure you could do, or encouraged you and gave you the hope you needed to continue pressing on in a situation when things seemed hopeless. Perhaps, you’ve been wounded deeply by another’s words, told you were nothing, or heard words that absolutely crushed your hopes and dreams, and sucked the life right out of you.
Words are powerful.
The apostle Paul understood the power of our words. In Ephesians 4:29, he gave us this command: "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."
Essentially, Paul was saying, “Do NOT speak CURSES. These are unwholesome because they are devoid of God and His life…They inject death. Instead, supportone another by ONLY speaking words of BLESSING that project God’s LIFE based on what they need right now.”
For those of us who are followers of Christ, God has commanded each of us to be His mouthpiece and inject His life into one another. Every time we open our mouths, we either inject life or death into another…which is it right now?
I believe all of us want to be people who inject life. We don’t want to be people who inject hurt and death into others.
I want to give us two CHALLENGES that I believe will help us become people who inject life into others:
1. Choose to only speak what injects life when speaking TO others.
Every time you’re getting ready to speak, ask yourself: “Is what I am about to say to them going to inject life or death…be a blessing or a curse to their soul?”
Even more importantly, ask God in prayer…”What do they need to hear right now?”
We have the opportunity to give support to another and share the words they need to hear, by being God’s mouthpiece and injecting His life.
When people around us are…
- Feeling hopeless…inject words of HOPE!
- Believing lies…inject words of TRUTH!
- Feeling discouraged…inject words of ENCOURAGEMENT!
- Struggling with sin…inject GOD’S TRUTH! Remind them of who they are!
- Struggling with being alone…inject words of LOVE!
2. Choose to only speak what injects life when speaking ABOUT others.
Gossip ALWAYS injects death. Gossip is devoid of God’s love and His LIFE. When we gossip, we’re cowards. We say or type words about someone that we’d never say to their face. When we gossip, we bring death to people’s souls.
Are the words that people are hearing from you injecting life or death into their souls?
Let’s be a people that injects life and supports one another!
Choose to ONLY speak words that inject life!