Words

 “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.” Proverbs‬ ‭18‬:‭21‬ ‭ESV‬‬

‭‭ So much truth! “Death and life are in the power of the tongue”!

The words we choose have the ability to wound or heal. They can encourage or criticize, build up or tear down. They leave scars that we can carry for years. 

Jesus was mocked; slapped; spit on; laughed at; called insane

But He didn’t retaliate; didn’t defend Himself. He remained silent.

In those moments when He was silent did He pray for them? Did He give them over to His Father? Did He forgive them? Did He love them in the midst of the persecution?

What about me? Why is it so hard for me to forgive hurtful words? To want others to feel the pain they have caused me? To lash out at them; defend myself. To treat them the way they have treated me.

I love this verse from 2Samuel 16:12(ESV) “It may be that the Lord will look on the wrong done to me, and that the Lord will repay me with good for his cursing today.”” 

For context, Absalom, David’s son, had secretly made himself King. A lot of the people were turning against David and following Absalom. While David was fleeing from Absalom, a man from the family of Saul, Shimei was following after David, cursing him and throwing rocks at him, telling him to get out that the Lord had given the kingdom to Absalom. 

But David didn’t retaliate! His men wanted to kill Shimei but David said leave him alone! He put it in Gods hands. He trusted that God would take care of the situation in His way and timing.

Paul in 2Corinthians 12:10(ESV) declared, “I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” He chose to rely on the grace Jesus gave him in whatever circumstance he found himself in, sounds to me like he didn’t fight back with angry words.

In Ephesians 4:29, Paul tells us to use our words wisely. To let no “corrupting” talk come out of our mouths. But use our words to build others up, to encourage, that our words might “give grace to those who hear”.  

In Luke 6:27-28 Jesus tells us we are to love our enemies, do good to those who hate you, pray for those who abuse you, bless those who curse you. Definitely NOT easy! 

 In James 3:6-10, we are told “no human being can tame the tongue”! How true this is! It's so easy for me to jump to conclusions. React before I have all the facts. Misinterpret  a comment then blowing it out of proportion! ‭When someone wounds with their words my first reaction is to fight back. How I desire instead to take a deep breath remind myself hurting people hurt people and not take everything they say to heart! Leave it to God like David. Rely on the grace Jesus gives like Paul. 

I can also remind myself of Scripture like Proverbs 19:11, "Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is to his glory to overlook an offense." Choose not to take offense. Choose to think before I respond. Choose the Spirit over the flesh. I can memorize Psalm 19:14, “May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” Especially before I open my mouth. 

Yes, death and life are definitely  in the power of the tongue!

May I; may we learn to choose our words wisely. May we speak words of hope, encouragement and life over others. May we choose to be kind. 

And always, always remember, when we mess up, and I know I will, His mercies are new every morning(and sometimes moment by moment)! See Lamentations 3:22-23. 🙂

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