WORDS

The things we say have the power to uplift, encourage, and motivate. However, our words can also be self destructive, and completely crush and destroy those around us. I'm going to talk about the power of our words in two scenarios - The things we speak to others and the things we silently speak to ourselves.

WORDS TO OURSELVES
A little over two years ago I decided that I wanted to start running. When I first started, to my surprise (and disappointment) I could barely run ONE MINUTE!!!!! Not joking.. haha. I was extremely out of breath in minutes. That was September of 2014. Fast forward to today... and I've ran several 5Ks, and in a few days will run my second 10K without stopping. I can run for over an hour when two years ago I could barely run a single minute. Seems crazy I know!!! But it's true. I realized that through discipline and training that it was definitely possible for me to run at least 3 miles. So I TOLD MYSELF I COULD DO IT and I got to work.
Yes, of course if we are using the example of physical goals then there are some things in life that may never be possible for people to do because of physical ailments. But honestly for most of us, even our physical strengths and weaknesses are defined by the words we speak to ourselves and therefore resulting in what we THINK in our minds to be true. Running has taught me that the body achieves what the mind believes. The mind is a powerful thing, and can convince us of almost anything even if it may not actually be true. Our minds are operated by the silent words we tell ourselves. If you don't WANT to ever do things like - loose weight, be a runner, have a certain career ect.. then that's ok, and you just won't. But if you simply just think you CANT be or do any of those things, well.. then you still won't even if you want to. So think long and hard before the next time you say you "can't" do something.

Listen.. I am not a fast runner or an expert really in anything! But I have learned the power of words when we say them about ourselves. So as we soon get ready to move forward into another year.. think about the things you WANT to do, even if you think you can't, and try it at least. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13 - I love that verse because it reminds me to not just trust God, but also that we have a God who is FOR our joy. He doesn't want us living in fear or self doubt. He wants us to enjoy life! That looks different for everyone, but it starts with speaking healthy words over yourself and realizing you are most likely capable of way more than you ever thought.

WORDS TO OTHERS
We live in a time where our words can be spoken in numerous ways. We have smart phones and social media. With social media we have the ability to speak whatever we want through several different communities. I love that! I love to talk : ) Anyone who knows me knows that. I'm a pretty transparent person too! I very rarely say something I don't mean. However, I've noticed lately how easy it is for me to say and communicate pretty much anything via texting and social media, regardless of wether or not I actually even feel that way. I'm not talking about things like blogging or writing a sermon. I'm speaking more about the normal every day communication we have back and fourth with the people in our lives. Of course sometimes writing things down in a message or text rather than speaking it in person can be helpful for the process, and at times the most convenient! However, sometimes it allows us to say and communicate things we don't really mean. Honestly.. even saying things in person can communicate the opposite of who we really are. "Reacting" can really get us into trouble sometimes. I'll talk about that in a moment..
Just like the words we say to ourselves can completely change almost any situation, the words we speak to others have just as much power.

Recently I had a situation occur in my personal life that had me emotional and frustrated. I said A LOT of things that I shouldn't have said. Maybe I meant them due to being frustrated! But sometimes our feelings are indicators of things that need to be sorted through within ourselves, rather than being words spoken. This is actually something that I've been doing a lot of self reflecting on, and sorting through in my own life. Part of the reason I've been trying to cut back my social media time is because of that very reason. Of course there are times to speak up, but there are also times that I need to sit back and process my feelings rather than spewing my emotions all over the place with harsh words. I'm also learning how to be a RESPONDER with my words and not a REACTOR. A reactor adds trouble on top of trouble. A responder adds grace on top of grace. A reactor spews emotion. A responder gives a gentle answer. A reactor escalates the conflict. A responder dissipates the conflict.

Do we want to add trouble or grace to others lives? Do we want to spew emotion or give a gentle answer? Do we want to escalate a conflict or dissipate it? I think the answers for all of us are obvious. I know for me it is. But it's hard.. that's the issue.
For someone like me who speaks a lot of words in one single day, learning how to handle my words better can be quite a challenge (haha). Being a mom really challenges this. As a mom, it's so much easier in the moment to REACT to my children and their behavior. Learning how to RESPOND to them is crucial though. Our words can be encouraging or damaging to them. Even discipline if done the right way can be encouraging to them rather than harm their little spirits. What I'm realizing though, is that as adults we tend to be just as fragile.

The harsh reality is that within each of us is a sinful nature that wants to react on everything. But I believe that God wants better for us. God wants our words to encourage one another and speak life and love into the lives around us. That doesn't mean we shouldn't ever speak hard truths to people who need it. It means that wether we choose to internally process our emotions or verbalized them, that we do it with the wisdom that comes from Christ. God is FOR freedom of speech. He's also for love, unity, respect, and reconciliation.

May the power of our words speak life and love into OUR lives and into the lives of OTHERS.