The Power of Your Words: Pt. 1 What Are You Saying About Yourself?
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it and indulge it will eat its fruit and bear the consequences of their words (AMP). Pr 18:21
Anyone would agree that the words we speak are important. There has been scientific research and studies that prove the power of words. However, you don’t need that research to confirm the truth of how powerful words are. Just think back over your life and undoubtedly you will recall how someone’s words impacted you positively or negatively.
I can recall when I was a young girl in 6th grade. I was heading out of school with my older brother when a kid I had never met yelled, “hey Wilson (our last name), is that fat girl your sister?” I didn’t know that boy nor could I identify what he even looked like. However, I remember those words like it was yesterday. And they impacted me greatly.
In 8th grade (going through puberty), I went from being 5’ 4” and 145 lbs to 5’ 6” and 110 lbs just that year. I was now very skinny, but I never saw myself thin. I identified with the words, “fat girl.” When I saw pictures of myself thin, I didn’t really believe that that is what I looked like. I thought it must be a camera angle or something.
Isn’t that crazy!? A little flippant comment impacted my impressionable teenage years.
I can also recall moments when kind words or compliments were given to me that also shaped who I am positively. Words are powerful!
We may not be able to control the words that others say about us or to us, but we can control our own words. We talk to ourselves constantly – most of the time the things we are saying are not very nice.
We call ourselves stupid, fat, ugly, clumsy, forgetful, not talented, old, or out of shape. The thing is, we also believe those statements as well. Did you know that you won’t find any of those negative descriptive words found about you in the Bible? God doesn’t talk about His children that way, and neither should you!
Even if some of those things are facts, you can change those facts with the truth of God’s Words. For example, say you don’t know what to do about a situation and you feel stupid and confused. Well, don’t tell yourself those words, ask God for wisdom and the Bible says He will give it to you. (James 1:5) Then instead of speaking, “I’m so stupid, I don’t know what to do.” Say, “I have the wisdom of God for this situation, and He will give the answers that I need.”
This is more than just having a positive OUTLOOK, it is having positive OUTPUT. What you say is just as important as what you think.
I like what Terri Savelle Foy has to say about the subject.
I want to challenge you to pay attention to the words coming out of your mouth. Psalms 141:3 say, “Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips.” You can pray that prayer for yourself.
Make a list of positive affirmations from the Word of God concerning the negative thoughts you have about yourself. Terri has some wonderful affirmations as she said in the video. I encourage you to get a hold of those.
We are talking about the importance of our words at our Wednesday Night Live Bible study. Here is the first night.