Watch Your Mouth!!!

Earlier this week I was having a conversation with one of my close friends. This is a friend who I know to be extremely successful, inspiring, and just an all around great person. During this conversation I could hear insecurity and the self doubt in the way they spoke about themselves. Which is crazy to me because of how highly I view them. It really kind of shocked me. I realize that everyone has flaws and insecurities that they struggle with, but it felt like in their spirit they believed these flaws were what defined them as a person. I literally had to stop and remind them of who they belonged to (Jesus) and how amazing they are. And that God doesn't make mistakes. He loves us all despite our flaws. All of a sudden there were tears flowing from their eyes. They told me that people have always pointed out their flaws and criticizing them. And that it had been so long since they had been celebrated and told them positive things about themselves. It rocked my spirit to hear this.

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

Words have an enormous amount of power. Positive words can push people to overcome and accomplish amazing things. But negative words can have the opposite affect. Negativity is like a cancer. It can literally suck the life right out of a person. It can shatter their spirit and in some cases even turn them away from Christianity all together. Everyone needs encouragement, support, and love. Even the people who appear to be the most confident and have it all together. They still go through life shattering moments. And it is our job as Christians to help carry people when they are wounded. It is not our job to leave them there to suffer. And it is certainly not our job to inflict more pain. 

'Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.' KJV Ephesians 4:29

I vividly remember that at my lowest moments, when I was deep in the middle of depression, it was the positive words of others that helped me through. I know 'Perfect' Christians like to say all you need is Jesus and you will make it, but lets just be real. There were moments when I was so low, that I couldn't even muster up the energy to pray for myself. I literally did not have the words to even talk to God because my spirit was in so much pain. I was crying so uncontrollably, that I could not take a deep breath to calm down and pray. If you haven't been there, I guarantee one day you will know what I am talking about. But it was in those moments, I had some really amazing people in my presence, and even on the other end of a phone, speaking the life right back into me. They reminded me of how amazing and strong I am. And that God was already working things out on my behalf. They prayed with and for me when I could not do it for myself. Those moments are what got me through sometimes. I truly believe God knew I needed to hear a persons voice, speaking life into me at those low moments. It was God who gave them the right words to say. It was God who made sure they were right there when I needed them. It was all God.

And because I have been on the receiving end, I was reminded that it is also my job to speak those words of life right back into other people. Just as much as we need people to speak life into us, we also have to allow God to speak through us to other people. Remember it is not always about you. So make sure your heart, mind and spirit are always ready to be used. Your words could literally change someones life. So choose your words carefully and WATCH YOUR MOUTH!