Do you remember the scene from the movie Bambi when Thumper the rabbit says to one of the other forest animals, “If you can’t say somethin’ nice, don’t say nothin’ at all” ? I bet I’m not the only mom who has repeatedly reminded my kids (and myself if I’m being honest) of that simple yet profound statement. Our words matter.
Thumper knew what he was talking about. Our words matter. Our words affect the people around us. Our words can build others up, be the wind beneath their wings, can encourage and uplift, or they can tear down, discourage, embarrass, or crush the spirits of others. Our words are an overflow of what is in our hearts.
Matthew 12:34 tells us, “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” Convicted yet? I know I am. How different our days would be if we really, and I mean REALLY, believed how powerful our words are.
Scripture has much to say about our words, our tongue, and the overflow of our heart.
Psalm 19:14 “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”
Proverbs 12:18 “There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”
1 Peter 3:10-12 “For whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
Pretty powerful words there if you ask me. “For whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil…” This portion of the verses in 1 Peter brings me back to my original thoughts when beginning this post. I’m not a big “new year’s resolution” type of gal. I do like to set some personal goals for myself for the new year, with some realistic plans for keeping those goals. Sometimes they work out and sometimes they don’t, but the ones that do almost always are true lifestyle changes that have a real, tangible value.
I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about 2016. I don’t have my word for the year…it just hasn’t come to me yet, but I have been wondering about changes, goals, etc. and the Lord just keeps reminding me that our thoughts and our words have a profound effect on our days. What if our words are carefully chosen so they are life giving words? What if our hearts overflow with love, grace, and gratitude to the Lord for all He has done for us? How would that change our words?
What if we purpose together, and pray together for our hearts to overflow with life giving words to those around us, as well as to ourselves. 2016 can be a better year than 2015 if we purpose to make that change. Our circumstances and trials may not change, but our heart, our attitude, and our outlook will. And our walk with the Lord will grow exponentially when we meditate on His word and ask Him to change our hearts.
Have you picked your word of the year for 2016? I don’t have my word yet, but at least one of my verses for this year will be Psalm 19:14 “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”
Here’s to a blessed 2016, sweet friends!