THE CREATIVE POWER 

OF SPOKEN WORDS

"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me."

This is a saying that I remember my mother quoting to me a number of times as a child, particularly during my primary school years, as I bore the brunt of playground taunts directed at me because of my facial deformity from birth. I was born with right-sided facial paralysis, combined with a deformity to the left side of my face, resulting in an asymmetrical mandible (lower jaw).

Fortunately for me, I cannot remember receiving those same taunts at high school, although I was acutely aware of my appearance, so underwent four plastic surgery operations during my teenage years.

Back to the quote above. I must say that, although my mother had the best intentions in trying to help me navigate the cruelty of those early years, the statement "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me" is simply not true, at least not the second part.

Words spoken have the power to create, and to destroy - to build up, or to break down.

Proverbs 18:21 says Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

The Bible has much to say about the power of words, both to build up, or to break down or destroy.

Ephesians 4:29 Don't use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

I don't know how many times I have heard about children and teens being told by their parents, teachers and even peers that they would never amount to anything.

These words, in many instances have led to children growing up to believe they are losers and are not capable of making anything worthwhile out of their lives.

Thankfully, for those who have committed their lives to Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, and who have given heed to the Word of God, many have had a revelation of the truth that each person has an eternal worth in God's sight, when reborn by the Spirit of God. As the apostle Paul states in Ephesians 1:7,8,6b "in Him [Jesus], we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, that we are accepted in the Beloved."

Words of death and curse words spoken over the lives of children and adults can be broken off and the captives of these words can be gloriously be set free by the power of the Holy Spirit, and the Word of the Living God - the Word of Truth. Failure is not a word that God uses to define His children, those who are truly following Jesus.

James 3:9,10 in the New Testament say of the tongue: With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.

Jesus, in speaking of the power of our words says in Luke 6:45 "A good man brings good things out of the good stored in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil things stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of."

Proverbs 15:4 says The soothing tongue is a tree of life,

but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.

1 Peter 3:9 says: Don't repay evil for evil. Don't snap back at those who say unkind things about you. Instead, pray for God's help for them, for we are to be kind to others, and God will bless us for it.

TO BE CONTINUED