Real Life Means Words Have Power, But God's Word Has More Power !

                                                                                    In Real Life we are bound to hear words that hurt.    

.I love words. Since I was 10 I have been writing. My mom bought me a typewriter and since that day I have been clunking at keys. I found my voice with a pen and paper, or fingertips and a key board. I love words, but I also have an issue, words affect me. Way too much. At my age I  am more prone to see my weaknesses. I know my flaws and my weak points. Words may be a strength for me, but words, other peoples words when directed my way, well that is my weakness. God gave me the perfect guy, who I was so lucky to marry. He doesn’t hold in punches when he tells me of my little problem. “This is a problem you have had since I’ve known you !” He graciously said. At 35 years old I turned to him and admitted it, “Your right honey, thanks for saying that. I know this and something has to change.”

If you’re a Christian and have walked with the Lord any amount of time. If you have seen your own flaws too. You know change cannot be accomplished in a meditation class, or positive thinking. Change comes from God working on you. God renews our  mind I don’t renew it myself. Gods Word washes us .  I need more of Gods Word. I need to hide it in my heart. Psalm 119"11-" I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.I know this and God has brought it front and center to my attention time and again.

Proverbs 16: 23-24 says “ A wise man’s heart guides his mouth, and his lips promote instruction. Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.”  Wow if we could only speak words that would be sweet and healing, but we all need work with our words. Often man’s words ( and I have been guilty as well) can be cutting, hurtful, harsh. True at times yes, but loving? Often times no ! They can bring you down, isolate you ( if you let them ), or make you bitter. Sometimes someone will say something true that might hurt , but later benefits you. I don't mean those situations. There is for sure a time for words to hurt a little so they can later help us. Proverbs 27:6- " Faithful are the wounds of a friend." I am not talking about words of correction or even discipline , because those words have importance in my life as well. I am talking more about those words that are meant to harm you.They are thrown out for one reason, to do you harm in some way. Its an " I don't like you, so here ya go !" Kind of remark.The Bible does say  that our words can bring either  life or death. Proverbs 18:21-“ In the power of the tongue there is life and death, and those who eat it love its fruit.” It is a struggle to control our words isn’t it? But it is also a strong struggle to not let others words control us.

                Just recently my kids had a run in with other peoples words. My oldest son had heard the words, “ I hate you!” and had a mop shoved in his face. My son was told that him being born was a mistake by another kid. He came home in tears. “ Jonn !” I said. “ Is that true? Have mom and dad ever said you are a mistake? “ “ No mom!” he admitted. “ More importantly”, I went on, “Does God anywhere in His Word say you were a mistake? He said He formed you in your mother’s womb! STAND ON TRUTH!” I told my son, not wanting other peoples words to control how he views himself.

                Not but a few days later my daughter came to me with her own struggle with words. “Mom !”, she began” All the girls told me I never eat !”  I knew right away her struggle, she was embarrassed to eat in a crowd of girls. She went on…..” Do you think, they think I’m anorexic.” I tried not to laugh and be sensitive to her heart. I simply asked her, “ Amara, are you anorexic?” Me as a mom knowing she eats just fine at home. “ NO MOM!” She quickly declared. “Then Stand on truth!” I told her. “Don’t let others words affect you!”

Well my advice is fine and dandy when it comes to my kids.However

God is a parent as well and He has been prodding me with my little word problem. “Stand on Truth!” He has been telling me. I was convicted at how easily peoples words can hurt and down on my day. Here I was giving my kids advice that I still stuggle with, God is challenging me, just as I want to challenge my own kids to move on, to stand on what they know is true!

Why do I listen to others words more than Gods? This has to stop and I know it. I have had to do some major introspection and ask myself, Could it be Gods word has to be sought out. It requires time to know it. Mans words are NOW, in your face and abrupt. How often do I stew over and think of someone’s harsh words toward me. Do I spend that much time thinking of Gods truth? Do I review Gods Word like I do some sentence that was spoken in a unkind way?  Do I think on God’s Word, Do I hide it in my heart so it is there right when I need it? Shame on me ! Peoples words have power, yes ! But Gods Word is SO MUCH MORE POWERFUL! Hebrews 4:12- For the Word of God is living and active. Sharper then any double edged sword. It PENETRATES to dividing even soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. “  Now that is POWERFUL!

Something has to change for my kids. Something has to change for me. Those words that can so easily hurt need to be replaced with thoughts of truth. One of my favorite authors is Elizabeth George. I was reading her book last night, Loving God with All Your Mind. Here is what she said about Gods Word and its power in her life and her situation.......

“During the eight long years of this painful relationship (filled with harsh and unkind words) I kept asking, “Can’t anyone see what is happening here? Don’t you see God? God, just look my way! It’s so obvious she is tripping me up while I am trying to serve you. How can you let this go on time after time?” Every day for eight years- day after dreary day, year after frustrating year- I spoke daily to God and my husband about this seemingly hopeless and pointless situation. I constantly found myself thinking about this. For eight years I allowed this situation to rob me of time. I’d lived with this situation for eight years when I had a turning point. When it was time for my morning walk I grabbed a stack of my memory verses. As I was reviewing I came to a verse Romans 11:33” Oh the depths of both the wisdom and knowledge of God. How unsearchable are his judgments and unfathomable his ways.” I realized God knew this situation and He had even allowed it in my life.There was a breakthrough in my spirit as God used his Word to touch my heart in a new way. The message of Rom 11:33 washed me, it washed over me, and it washed through me. It gave me freedom from an eight year old struggle from this woman." Elizabeth George

 You would have to read the book to hear the whole story, but her point was Gods words brought her a real freedom. I wish I could personally tell this author, Thank you ! Thanks for sharing that words are an issue for you. I no longer feel alone. I rather realize God is working on us all. I love Elizabeth George. I love that she shares her issues. Depression, peoples words, looks, trials. She is not ashamed to say she had and has issues. But she so equally declares how God has helped her. I have an issue, words!  A strength maybe, but also a weakness . I need God, I need His Word to speak truth in my life and let the hurtful words drop at the wayside quickly. I need just as quickly to go to the source of truth. Jesus Himself!

God is loving enough to tell us we have flaws. Then his love stretches beyond to then work on us. He does not leave us, He works. He loves us that much! Words are my issue. I am no longer embarrassed to say it.I am only thankful God would bring it to my attention, so He can work on me.

We can all learn, when we see another’s flaws , ( which believe me we all will),  to speak a good word toward them. Proverbs 12:25 “ Anxiety in the heart of a man weighs him down,  but a GOOD WORD makes him glad. “ By a good word, that means Gods Word spoken in to a person’s life.  After all it is His Words that bring life. Psalm 119:130- The unfolding of your words give light, It gives understanding to the simple.” John 6:63 – “The Spirit gives life. The flesh counts for nothing. The words that I have spoken to you they are spirit and they are LIFE !” I hope I am learning to do this more and more as the years pass.

Maybe words aren’t your issue. What is? There is not one flaw, fear, feeling, that God does not address in His Word. It is God who changes us. Phil 2:13- “For it is God who works in you, to will and to act according to his good purpose.”Words have power, but let’s not forget Gods more Powerful Word.  Lets apply it to our own lives first. Then let’s turn and speak it in to a weary, down, fearful, doubtful, discouraged, proud, sorrowful, lonely, fill in the blank someone that God would put in our path. May we stand on truth when harsh words are spoken, and may our words bring health to others. Gods Word has Power.

Real Life brings real words. But in real life is a very Real God with a very Real Word. I can cling to it in a very real way. In whatever issue, weakness or hard time I have. He changes me, but He never changes. I can seek all sorts of avenues and book shelves to get some self help, but I know all to well I cant help myself..I can acknowledge I have a problem, I can take steps toward change, but I can also

go to the most amazing, powerful God. His Word is Powerful. I could study for months to change me, or with one amazing passage of scripture God can change my heart and mind.By hiding it in my heart, reviewing it and stewing over it. It is that powerful. When words are hurled our way may we cling to God s Word it is a very sure Word of truth. Stand on Truth !
              Our Words are never going to be perfect, but God's Word is perfect. I unfortunately will hurt others on occasion with what I say. Others will hurt me. But we all have a choice to go to the sweet honey of the Bible. To take in, memorize, and stew over God's Words about how he views us. People's words have power , but Gods Word has more power.