the power of words

Our words are powerful. Our words mean something.

Genesis says that God used words to speak the universe into creation. John 1:1 says, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word WAS God." Proverbs says that the tongue has the power of life and death.

I think that in today's society, words can be taken a little too lightly. If you're like me (and probably most of us!), you wake up in the morning checking your e-mail, you spend your day bombarded with the words of books, the radio or television, and you go to bed at night checking your Facebook. Our technology has made it so easy to be constantly immersed in a world of words.

What are those words speaking to your heart? Which words are you allowing to take root and grow inside you? Who is doing the speaking?

Are you filtering the things you allow to reach your mind and heart? I know it's hard sometimes to stop and think, how will this affect me in the long run? But we must be conscious of what's going in to change what is coming out.

What words are you speaking? Are they words of life or death? Are you uplifting and encouraging, or depressing and pessimistic? What about the manner in which you are speaking - is it lifegiving?

I want to be a light to those around me. Things may not always go my way. I have bad days just like everyone else. I struggle with the same things that every one else struggles with. Even so, I am incredibly blessed. I want my words to reflect the hope and blessings that God has poured out in my life.

These are the questions I am going to be asking myself this week as I encounter all those around me - in the workplace, at church, with my husband, in online interactions, on our mini-vacation this weekend.