I’ve been thinking about words the last few days and the power of them. I recently read a book from Charles Martin called “The Dead Don’t Dance”. In one of the last chapters a teacher’s student leaves him a note explaining to him what his words of love and encouragement had done for her life. Here is an excerpt.
Here today, right now, I’m living, and you did that. I was carrying a whole bottle full of pills, and I didn’t eat them because you turned the corner, walked up to me, and breathed life into me when I didn’t want any air.
In Proverbs 18:21 it says- The tongue has the power of life and death and those who love it will eat it’s fruit.
Our tongues and words have more power than we realize. We either breathe life into others with our words or death. I have seen evidences of both. I have been ashamed at times of things I have spoken to others in anger, that I know crushed their spirit, and left a horrible imprint on their heart. Words that can’t be taken back, words that I wished I never would have said.
I’ve also seen the life-transforming power of what words of encouragement and love can do for a person’s soul. I don’t know how many times I have been in a pit of despair and had no will or want to get out, and Jesus brought someone along to breathe life into me. I’m asking God to help me to do the same for others. To have eyes to see, ears to hear and a heart that longs to bring life and not death with the choice of my words.
Proverbs 10:21- The lips of the righteous nourish many.
