speak life
Choosing Words That Build Instead of Break
Maybe it’s just me, but I have a predisposition to be negative. If I take an honest inventory of my thought life and some of the things I allow to come out of my mouth, it's often negative, skeptical or just down right discouraging.
Stub my toe? “Just my luck.”
Finances are tight? “I’ll never get caught up.”
Pants are a little snug? “I’m so gross.”
Friend is busy or slow to respond? “They definitely hate me.”
I could keep going, but I’m sure you get the picture.
What’s crazy about this all is that I am a redeemed and chosen child of the King. There is no greater news than this. You’d think I’d be bursting from the seams with joy. By all accounts, I should be a literal walking beam of sunshine knowing this! Yet, often I am not. Despite being made new, as long as I am here on Earth, I will have to fight my flesh. Human (sin) nature tells me to be scenic, to be harsh, impatient, negative, etcetera.
But God’s word tells us to take our thoughts captive, to be transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2). Renewing means an intentional shift in the way we think and speak. That’s the key though, this requires intentionality and discipline. This is a spiritual discipline that will likely require life long effort. It will become easier as time goes on, just like all disciplines, but there will still be days when the car wont start, we catch the flu or something else tries to derail us. Nevertheless, we need to continue to renew and transform our thoughts and speech patterns.
In Proverbs 18:21 we read that “the power of life and death are in our tongues.” Talk about an enormous responsibility! What would happen if we started to take that scripture seriously? Imagine, life is coming at you from all sides and there seems to be no end in sight. But what if we started speaking positivity into these hard places? Think back to your childhood with me for a moment. If you were lucky, you hopefully had someone that spoke life into a tough moment for you. Whether you failed a test, couldn’t quite grasp how to ride a bike, or didn’t make the team, chances are that someone came along and told you that you were capable and should keep trying. They offered you the encouragement you needed and sure enough, you’ve been riding a bike for years now. If this type of encouragement never came to you, imagine what a difference it might have made during such formative years!
As Christians, we are called to be a light in dark places. This means that we are expected to be that same kind of encourager, both to ourselves and to others.
As Christians, we are called to be a light in dark places. This means that we are expected to be that same kind of encourager, both to ourselves and to others. We need to speak life on purpose, thoughtfully renewing our self talk and how to speak to others. This can look like a random text to a friend that points out a trait you admire in them, letting someone know that you have their back in a tough situation, or calling them out when they begin to speak negatively about themselves. When it comes to speaking life to ourselves, this means taking negative thoughts captive and replacing them with the truth.
A few years back, IKEA ran a “bully a plant” campaign to raise anti-bullying awareness. For 30 days one plant was played a recording of harsh words and unkind phrases. During that same time another plant was played audio of encouragement. At the end of the month, the plant that was bullied was withered and ugly, while the alternate was a flourishing plant. Several studies like this have been completed over the years and all had the same results. If our words are powerful enough to bring down a plant, imagine their impact on ourselves and each other. Not only this, but imagine the every day miracles that we might be missing because we aren’t speaking life! I can’t help but wonder what kind of healing, success or transformations we could begin to see if we spoke life into our circumstances. Could relationships be restored, financial freedom returned, confidence rebuilt? Who knows what the Lord may have in store for us as we begin to align our word with His truth.
Like I’ve already said, this is not my factory setting. Renewing my thoughts and my speech will be a life long discipline and require immense intentionality, likely until the day I die. But this is the calling I’ve been given and the rewards are worth the effort!
Let's be lights in dark places, cities on a hill, and a voice of compassion and love to those around us (and ourselves).
