Words

Mark 11:22-26 (WEBBE): ²²Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. ²³For most certainly I tell you, whoever may tell this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and doesn’t doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is happening; he shall have whatever he says. ²⁴Therefore I tell you, all things whatever you pray and ask for, believe that you have received them, and you shall have them. ²⁵Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father, who is in heaven, may also forgive you your transgressions. ²⁶But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your transgressions.”

The words that we speak have power. Jesus said that what we speak in faith will happen, even big things like moving a mountain.

Ephesians 4:23-24 (WEBBE): ²³and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, ²⁴and put on the new man, who in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of truth.

We are supposed to put on the new man, becoming like Jesus in every way. If our lives represent Jesus, then whatever we do or say will be in line with Love. Because God is Love. This doesn’t happen instantly though – renewing the mind is a continuous process. While we are still working on renewing our minds, we do have wonderful guidelines that we can live by, written by Paul to the Ephesians:

Ephesians 4:29-32 (WEBBE): ²⁹Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but only what is good for building others up as the need may be, that it may give grace to those who hear. ³⁰Don’t grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. ³¹Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, outcry, and slander be put away from you, with all malice. ³²And be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you.

Our words have the power to build up or to break down – the choice is ours how we use that power!