Whoever said sticks and stones will break your bones but words will never hurt you.....they need to be taken out and beaten with sticks and stones!
Proverbs 18:21 says the tongue has the power of life and death. If you have ever been on the receiving end of a withering verbal attack or had someone make unkind and cutting remarks...then you'll know that it can feel miserable. You can feel less than human. Like a failure. Worthless.
Many, when they constantly receive a barrage of negativity, they began to embrace the hurtful things people say as part of their identity.
The same thing works in reverse....praise and complements can build you up and make you feel wonderful.
Sadly I struggle to stay in the second category of kind words. Oh I don't go out and blast people, but I do tend to joke around a lot and sometimes my joking has had the opposite affect of what I intended.
I use to be worse though. I used to really get angry and let that anger come through. It was a struggle to learn new habits.
I think this is a real struggle in the body of Christ as well. I have met quite a few people who have been total blessings with both words and deeds. However I also have met quite a few "prayer-gossipers", those who under the guise of asking people to pray for someone, instead spread malicious gossip and half-truths. I have also met believers who don't hesitate to chew someone out, gossip about them or worse!
Gossip is just deadly. It kills those around you. It kills relationships and leaves a lot of hrting people in it's wake. I know. I've been the victim and victimzer. I repent! I don't want these trends to continue!
I want my lips to speak the love of Christ! I want my tongue to sing His praises.
If you have been hurt by the words of others know that God loves you and He cares. Your identity is in Him not in the negative comments of others. If you have been hurt by my words, from the bottom of my heart I am sorry!
My prayer is that I will model Philippians 4:8, "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
For it is out the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks! Matthew 12:34
Join me in a new day! A day where we learn, one day at a time, to think on things above and to let the love of God flow out from our lips!
2 comments:
Me To Rick. Numbers 6:22-27
The form of blessing the people
verse 27 is probably most valued to me. I am to say or bless others, I'm also to remember God will show up and bless His own.
and God gives us the authority in 1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
Thanks for sharing brother.
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