When I was a young child, I loved to learn and looked forward to going to school. At age seven, classmates began bullying me with hurtful, demeaning words. Then the bullying progressed to physical attacks. As a very precocious and gregarious child, I was confused and hurt and became withdrawn and doubted my worth and intelligence. I became so fearful that my skin broke out with severe eczema. My grades dropped from “excellent” to “poor and “not passing.” I had mentally surrendered to the bullies’ lies.
At age 16, my Dad passed away at 45 years old. It was during that time, that I resolved not to allow people to determine my destiny. I believed with hard work and determination I could succeed in whatever challenge faced me.
Years later, at age 26 and newly divorced, I surrendered my heart to Christ and received a new identity in Him, a new beginning, and the knowledge that I am loved by my Creator. I learned that my true value and worthiness come through my Redeemer, for “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17). I came to realize that hurting people hurt people; therefore, we are required to love and pray for our enemies (Matthew 5:44).
The vitriol and hatred that we are witnessing in America is beyond the pale. People trust in and identify with causes and not with Jesus Christ. Civility has gone out the window. Even many Christians, who are called to be a voice of hope and love, have joined in the negative discourse.
Hateful words have a way of negatively shaping the mind of the speaker and of those who are on the receiving end. Positive, affirming words encourage and give hope to both the one speaking and to the one who receives. For “your own soul is nourished when you are kind, but you destroy yourself when you are cruel (Proverbs 11:17). “Gentle words bring life and health; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit” (Proverbs 15:4). “Kind words are like honey-sweet to the soul and healthy for the body” (Proverbs 16:24).
We learn the power and importance of our words when we understand that God spoke the Word and the worlds came into exitance. “By the Word of the Lord the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of His mouth.” “For He spoke, and it came to be; He commanded and it stood firm”(Psalm 33:6;9).
“Let the one who has My Word speak it faithfully … “Is not My Word like fire,” declares the LORD, “and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?” (Jeremiah 23:28-29). When we speak God’s Word, we tap into His power, for His Word does not return to Him void (Isaiah 55:11).
We should never underestimate the power of our words. The devil does not ignore faithless, self-defeating self-talk nor words that demean or devalue. The enemy captures negative words we speak to make them profitable for evil (Ecclesiastes 10:20 ESV). Conversely, Satan responds to God’s Word when it is coming from a place of unshakable faith. Satan encountered Jesus in the desert and attempted to cause Him to fall, but Jesus responded three times, It is written… He quoted Scripture and quelled the enemy’s plans.
As spirit-filled believers, we have been given God’s authority through His Son Jesus, who is the living Word. Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever believe in Me will also do the works that I am doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son” (John 14:12-14).
The words we speak matter. “The tongue has the power of life and death” (Proverbs 18:21). How often do we speak negative words about ourself? “I’m fat.” “I’m stupid.” “I can’t…” “I’m sick.” “I’m afraid of…” “I’m not smart enough.” The list of negative self-talk is endless. Then there are words that we speak about other people. Are they uplifting, affirming, and encouraging, or do they accuse, condemn, criticize, and judge? Are we praying instead of criticizing?
I shamefully admit that I would vocalize angry, critical comments during the national news until the Holy Spirit reminded me of the following scripture: “But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matthew 12:36-37 NIV). This sobering Word has redirected my thoughts to what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8). We must guard our thoughts and put a guard over our mouth, because by our words we are either acquitted or condemned.
People often ask if the enemy can read our thoughts. He may not know what we think but he can certainly hear the negative things we speak about others and ourselves. Those negative words give Satan ammunition to perform that which we speak. That is why we cannot allow corrupt talk to come forth from our mouths, but only those words that build up to give grace to those who hear (Ephesians 4:29). Therefore, we must carefully choose our words.
How do we combat negative or critical thoughts that are too often voiced in social media, in the news, and on the streets of America? I have discovered within my own life that in choosing to have compassion, my heart opens to pray for that person. And love and prayers are the most powerful weapons against hatred, division, and misunderstanding.
This nation is a boiling cauldron of hatred, lies, criticism, and judgment. Nothing will change for the better until Christians unceasingly pray God’s Word over this nation, our current President, and the world. We are urged “that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness (I Timothy 2:1-2). Unless we Christians intercede for this nation, we will not live the peaceful and quiet lives that we long to have.
PRAYER: FATHER, I ask Your forgiveness for speaking empty and unfruitful words that have judged and criticized. “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer” (Psalm 19:14). “Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the people of the world revere [You.] For [You] spoke, and it came to be; [You] commanded, and it stood firm. [You foil] the plans of the nations; [You] thwart the purposes of the peoples. The plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of [Your] heart through all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people [You] chose for [Your] inheritance” (Psalm 33:7-12). I pray for mercy on this nation and that we turn away from wickedness and turn to You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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