Speaking to Impact Others Positively
ICS Daily Devotions
Proverbs 18:21 (NKJV) Death and life are in the power of the tongue. And those who love it will eat its fruit.
Words are powerful. They are loaded with the power of life and death. Have you heard the saying “sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me?” Nothing can be further from the truth, because not only can words break your heart, ruin your life, they can hurt others too. We will eat the fruit or the result of what we have spoken from our lips.
Proverbs 15:4 (NKJV) A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the heart.
Ephesians 4:29 (NKJV) Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification that it may impart grace to the hearers.
Have you uttered words that have torn down, crushed or disheartened your spouse, your children and even yourself? Remember that there is power in your word. While we know that we shouldn’t gossip, we do need to be reminded and make a conscious effort to guard our mouths. Our words should be kind and edifying.
The soul is comprised of the mind and emotions. Therefore, our bodies will react to the words spoken to us. While pleasant words make a person feel good, both our bodies and self-esteems can be hurt by mean words. The solution is to speak pleasant words to the body, and the body will heal on its own.
According to the authors of “Words Can Change Your Brain”, Andrew Newberg, M.D. and Mark Robert Waldman, “a single word has the power to influence the expression of genes that regulate physical and emotional stress.” According to them, “positive words, such as ‘peace’ and ‘love’ can alter the expression of genes, strengthening areas in our frontal lobes and promoting the brain’s cognitive functioning. They propel the motivational centres of the brain into action and build resiliency”. “Conversely, hostile language can disrupt specific genes that play a key part in the production of neuro-chemicals that protect us from stress”. They also wrote, “A single negative word can increase the activity in the fear centre of the brain”.
Proverbs 16:24 (AMP) Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.
The words that we speak can also turn things around when they are pleasant like honeycomb, breezing sweetness to the soul and health to the bones. When we speak edifying words, they bring joy, confidence, comfort, and strength to the listener. Let us choose to speak to affirm, encourage, strengthen, and build up our loved ones! The word you utter matters to people around you especially those who respect you.
Sermon Series: Cell Group Campaign
