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“Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me.”
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By Braxton King
I’m sure everyone reading this week’s “Musings” has heard this phrase at one time or another in their life, “Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” It’s a very good sentiment, but we all know it’s not true. Yes, I would rather somebody say something negative about me than to hit me with sticks and stones; however, words also can hurt and wound deeply. The Bible says, “The power of life and death is in the tongue.” It’s amazing to know the words I speak bring life or death to a situation. Many lives have been dominated by the words that were spoken over them, whether good or bad. We can build up someone or tear them down with our words. We can see the creative power of words and the fact that God created the universe by his Word, “Let there be, and there was.” The book of James says, “Look at the ships: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boast of great things” I remember one time somebody asked the question, “Have you ever been hung by the tongue?” This is an important question because, many times, we destroy God’s purpose for our lives by our words. The Bible says, “Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth will speak.” When I speak, I’m only revealing what is already in my heart. The word of God was breached by God himself, so His word is the very thought and interest of God. When we confess the word of God, we are simply agreeing with God and his thoughts for our future and purpose.
Jesus said, “By the words of your mouth, you shall be justified, or by the words of your mouth you shall be condemned.” It’s amazing to read what the Father said over Jesus at the baptism of John, “This is my beloved Son, in Him I am well pleased.” This positive affirmation of the father, over the life of Jesus, is a model for all dads and moms in the world. One writer said, “A man who only has a hammer in his toolbox, sees everyone as nails”. Bitter people are always spewing out bitterness, which is a bad harvest. Our tongues can be set on fire by hell or by the Holy Spirit. Don’t be a hater, be a congratulator. The Bible says the word of God will not return unto him void, but that it will accomplish what it is sent to do. When we pray, praise, preach, and testify about the word of God, we are speaking life into the situation. In the children’s story, “The Little Engine that Could”, the engine said, over and over, “I think I can, I think I can.” One of the great lessons my dad learned as a little boy in elementary school was when a teacher told him, “Never say I can’t, always say I’ll try.” As a little boy, he took this to heart, and it became one of the mottos of his life. Make a conscious effort in your life to build people up and encourage them. It is also important that we speak the word of God over our own personal lives. The way to overcome the negative is with these simple words from the Bible, “Let God be true, and every man a liar.”
Posted in Musings