The Power of Words

A woman police officer told me that she no longer worked on the streets making arrests. It wasn’t the violent physical assaults upon her (leaving her black and blue with bruises) which she found unbearable, but the continual, vicious, verbal abuse. She requested a transfer to working in the police station.

Experience in praying for many people shows me how much damage and crushing can be done to people’s human spirit by spoken pronouncements, judgements, and curses. Confusion can affect their minds and self esteem for the whole of their life. I believe the Lord Jesus wants us to help them identify any false pronouncements they have received and reject them. I hope the second half of this verse of the Bible is true of prayer ministers at Ellel Centres and in churches.

‘There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing’ (Proverbs 12:18).

In our daily walk as Christian believers who are aiming to shine the light of Jesus into the darkness of the world, we find so many places in the Bible to guide us in our speaking.

‘A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly’ (Proverbs 15:1-2).

‘To speak evil of no one, to avoid quarrelling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people… But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless’ (Titus 3:2 & 9).

‘Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain’  (Philippians 2:14-16).

We should be wise about what and how much we speak. Sometimes it would be best to keep quiet and not jump in too quickly with our own ideas, thoughts, and stories. We can also form a judgement about someone’s actions but be quite wrong. I admit I find it so hard not to jump to conclusions and form judgements about public figures based upon what I hear or read in social media and television. But later on, my conclusions and opinions may be shown to be mistaken.

Paul says in his letter to Timothy:
‘First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Saviour, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth’’ (1 Timothy 2:1-4).