WORDS

I cannot think of any time when I said something that didn’t first enter my mind/thoughts before it exited my mouth. I understand there is that expression about “speaking before you think.” I take that to mean that thoughts didn’t linger long enough in the mind before exiting the mouth, not that they didn’t enter the mind at all!

 

The things we spend time thinking about will enter our hearts – especially if we spend a lot of time thinking about them! What’s in our hearts --- what we truly believe --- is what comes out of our mouths when we speak. I’ve learned to take that Truth seriously. I get into trouble when I don’t watch what I say.   Most likely, you do, too.

 

I think God warned us about the importance of getting the right stuff planted in our hearts. In Luke 6:44-46 He said, “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”(NKJV)

 

This reminds me of a teaching I heard from Gloria Copeland. She was talking about the importance of being in God’s Word, meditating on it, and planting it --- you guessed it--- in our hearts. She compared it to how we have a savings account. We need to put money into the account to have money to draw out of it when we need it. Planting God’s Word in our hearts is the spiritual equivalent of a savings account. We need to put God’s Word in our hearts to have it available to draw on when we need it.

 

What we say is critical to our well-being and the well-being of others. The more we say something, the more we believe something and it becomes real to us. That’s what the world means by “self-fulfilling prophecy,” isn’t it? Yes, experts in the world say you become that which you say you are and that which you believe you are. Interesting – that was God’s principle first!

 

I can’t help but be reminded of an employee in one of the divisions I managed many years ago. Any time I was transferred to a division, I always made a habit of NOT looking at the personnel folders before I got to know someone. I liked to interact with the employees first, observing their work objectively. I tried not to form an opinion based on what another manager(s) had said about an employee. I scheduled one-on-one meetings with each employee for me to get to know them a little and for them to get to know me, with freedom to ask me anything. Yes, that takes more time, but I think the result is always better.

 

Case in point. I had been in a new division at work for about a week, maybe two. I noticed that one employee had been performing much lower level work than their job title/level warranted. I felt a need to find out why.

 

When I met with this particular employee, the topic of job duties came up. I asked this person why the duties being performed were different than the others with the same job title. The answer: “I’m not allowed to; I have a learning disability; and “I’m too dumb.” Wow – that was quite a confession. It was a confession learned from what others had said during the employee’s lifetime; it became imbedded in the heart – in the spirit.

 

I believed greater responsibilities were possible for this employee and opened the door for that to happen. Yes, I know not everyone is as smart as the next person, but I believe people are capable of much more than they might think and believe they are. They just need someone in their corner cheering for them. They need a fresh start and I was willing to give one to this employee. Why not? There was nothing to lose and a lot to gain.

 

My heart went out to this person. It appeared everyone had been told of this employee’s learning disability. The employee had believed what people said. The leadership staff provided training for more productive and rewarding work. The employee succeeded and worked on higher level work for a long time, long after I left that area. Unfortunately, as soon as someone could get the employee to believe the “you are worthless” lie again, the confidence gained was lost.

 

Why share all that? Because it’s a picture of how God’s Word works. I need to replace my words with His Words. I need to stop believing what the world says and focus on what God says and believe Him. It has made all the difference in my life. What I confess frames my world. What you confess will frame yours.

 

Whether it be the topic of health, finances, or anything else -- be very, very careful with your words. I can never forget that what I say, the words I choose to use, will impact my life and the lives of others. This is such a critical thing for individuals, parents, employers, teachers etc. to grasp and hang on to forever.

 

What I did for this employee is small compared to what Jesus did for me and for all who believe in Him. In Him, I have the opportunity to start fresh and know that He forgets my past. In Him, I gain strength to be all that He created me to be! He offers to same to all.

 

 

Daniel 10:11-12 “And he said to me, "O Daniel, man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you." While he was speaking this word to me, I stood trembling. 12 Then he said to me, "Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words.” (NKJV)



Luke 1:37 “For with God, nothing will be impossible.” (NKJV)

 

2 Cor 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (NKJV)

 

Mark 5:36 As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, “do not be afraid, only believe.” (NKJV)

 

Proverbs 12:18 “Speak without thinking, and your words can cut like a knife. Be wise, and your words can heal.” (ERV)

Proverbs 18:21 “The tongue can speak words that bring life or death. Those who love to talk must be ready to accept what it brings. (ERV)

 

Proverbs 21:23 “People who are careful about what they say will save themselves from trouble.”(ERV)

 

Matthew 4:4 Jesus answered him, "The Scriptures say, 'It is not just bread that keeps people alive. Their lives depend on what God says.” (ERV)

 

2 Corinthians 4:13 “And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed, and therefore I spoke”; we also believe, and therefore speak.” (NKJV)



Comments

There are no entries yet.
Please enter the code ↺
* Required fields
Please be aware that the contents of this form are not encrypted