Ready for more sharing from one of my recent devotionals from A Devo for Women on the Go? Well, here goes. The subject was "Sticks and Stones”. “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but…" I'm sure that most of us can finish this phrase because you probably heard this more than once or twice in your adolescent years [or maybe even after that in your adult years - hopefully not]. It ends with "words will never hurt me." The reason that we're not likely to hear this much as an adult is because by the time we've reached adulthood, one thing we all know for sure is that "words really hurt." In fact, in some ways words hurt us in ways that sticks and stones can't, because once the bruise from a thrown stone heals, the physical sign of the stone's injury is gone. But, when someone speaks words that are cruel, hurtful, and demeaning, the damage that ensues remains for a long time because there is no taking the words back. You've heard the old adage that "once you ring a bell, you can't unring it", and no one would argue with that.
The author shared the verse from Proverbs 18:21, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue”. If we think about it, that is so true because our human nature, for whatever reason, seems to want to give more weight and credibility to “negative” comments over “positive” ones. Anyone that knows me is aware that I am very bothered when anyone says negative or unflattering comments about themselves. First of all, what is the value in doing that when one can just as easily think and say something positive and flattering about themselves? I am not talking vanity but simply recognizing that the words we speak about ourselves or about others carry so much power. Isn't it just as easy to be encouraging as it is to take delight in pointing out someone's or your own shortcomings? There can be differences of opinions about anything as reasonable (or unreasonable) minds are known to differ. There is a Godly way we can choose to express ourselves, and I think it's called “speaking the truth, in love, even to yourself.
The Book of James, Verse 3, “Taming The Tongue”, says it best, I believe, as it seems to give life with its graphic illustrations of small bits used in the mouth of a horse to make it obey, a small rudder steering a large ship to wherever it wants it to go, and a small spark setting a forest on fire. It compares those examples to the tongue also being like a fire, among the parts of the body that can corrupt the whole person and set the whole course of one's life, and the lives of others, on fire.
If we take anything from James, it should be that man cannot tame the tongue, as “it is a restless evil, full of deadly poison”. James reminds us that with the tongue, we praise our Lord and Father, and with the same tongue, we curse our brothers and sisters, who have been made in God's likeness. James is clear: “Brothers (and sisters), this should not be.” Certainly, not one of us would say that it's easy, but as we mature in our relationship with God, it hopefully will be more difficult to use our words to curse rather than praise our fellow brothers and sisters (and ourselves).
I'll leave you with “Today's Prayer” from the author, Sandra D. Bricker, hoping it speaks to your heart, as it did mine. “Thank you so much, Lord Jesus, for your daily reminders that I am a child
of the Most High God, that I am unique and special, that I am the apple of my Father's eye, and that I have everything I need to fulfill my destiny. Help me to pass those reminders on to others in some way, each and every day, so that they might realize the joy of knowing life rather than death.”
Wishing all of you an "especially" blessed weekend as we, as brothers and sisters, fellowship together in His name.
In Him,
Charlotte
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