This week I’ve been noticing how important it is to decide whom or what kind of talk we want to listen to. Because the messages we receive change us. Words have power, much more than we think. Actually, the whole universe was created by the word of God, Jesus.

In the beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself. (John 1:1, AMP,*)

By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible. (Hebrews 11:3, NRSV,*)

Words have power

Because words have power, we are called to use them wisely. Also, we create new worlds with words. We can either build up or tear down with our words. We can heal or we can rip, it is our choice. So let’s choose wisely. Let’s choose life over death.

The tongue can bring death or life;
    those who love to talk will reap the consequences.
(Proverbs 18:21, NLT,*)

…to bring death or life

We can also sabotage our own well-being by listening to negative thoughts over and over. Even if that just happens in our own head. It would be helpful to learn to stop the negative thought cycles by submitting those thoughts to Jesus.

If we keep on focusing on stressful things and worrisome thoughts, we stay negative. But if we give those issues to Jesus and start counting our blessings instead, we get out of our funk. Sure, it takes some practice. But practice makes perfect.

And we are not on our own. God provides us his power to use our tongues kindly and choose wisely who or what we listen to. Because words have power, negative ones bring death, positive ones create life. We become what we listen to.

My decision is easy. I want to choose life upon life, always. Hence I choose to listen to God and his word and I dump the negative thought patterns at the foot of the cross. When I live in the Holy Spirit, all is well with my soul no matter how chaotic my world seems to get.

Gracious God,
Thanks for reminding us words have power.
Help us to choose life over death
also when we speak and/or listen.
We surrender our words to you, Lord.
Use them for your glory.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

Q4U:
Do you think words have power? How have you experienced it? Do you think we become what we listen to?

Blessings to you, my dear fellow pilgrim, as you choose wisely who and what you listen to!

* [As you might have noticed, I enjoy reading the Bible in different translations and love comparing them. I have started linking the Bible verses to Biblegateway.com so you can easily read (and compare) them in the different versions I’ve used while preparing each post.]

Linking up today with Dance with Jesus and Five-minute Friday. Photo by Sai Kiran Anagani on Unsplash.