The Power to Uplift or Destroy
A Simple yet Profound Choice
The words we speak have the power to bring life or death to those around us. As the Bible says, “The tongue has the power of life and death…” (Proverbs 18:21). With every conversation, we hold the ability to inspire or deflate, to uplift or tear down.
The Encouragers in Our Lives
I’m grateful for the people who bring life to my spirit. My husband and sister-in-law, June, are two individuals who inspire me to be my best self. When I’m around them, I feel energized and motivated. Unfortunately, we’ve all encountered people who have the opposite effect.
The Discouragers We’ve Met
We’ve all had our share of interactions with people who leave us feeling defeated and worthless. I recall working with someone who was sophisticated, influential, and hardworking, but had a tendency to unleash hurtful words when things didn’t go her way. Her deadly tongue-lashings not only affected me but also led to the downfall of many friendships.
The Choice We Face
With every word we speak, we have the power to choose between life and death. We can build up or tear down, inspire or deflate. The Bible reminds us that our words have the potential to spark great fires or bring healing (James 3:5, Proverbs 12:18). We must take responsibility for the words we speak and make amends when we’ve hurt others.
A Call to Action
Let’s make a conscious decision to be encouragers, not discouragers. Take a moment to reflect on the people you may have hurt with your words. Make a list and plan to apologize. As we strive to use our words for life, we’ll not only bring joy to others but also experience it ourselves.
A Prayer for Wisdom
Father, you give life to us all. Jesus gave His life for all. Enable us to allow Your life to flow through us to those we meet each day. Amen.
Leave a Reply