21 The tongue has the power of life and death,
and those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:21 NIV
How often do you think about how what you say affects your life? Stop and consider. Your life is a direct reflection of what you say to yourself and to other people…but especially to yourself. I think we all know that it one way or another. Jesus made it clear when He said, “Love your neighbors as yourself.” Much to my surprise, the same thing was said in the Old Testament.
Leviticus 19:18 NIV
“‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.
Loving your neighbor sounds like a good thing to do. Love can be an emotion…but it is also a decision which we consciously make. And if we are speaking “death” to ourselves, we will not be able to love anyone at all.
What do I mean by speaking death to ourselves? It is easy, and we all have done it. “I am stupid. I have no patience. I am too shy. I don’t know how to do “that”. Even God hates me. I have no self-confidence. I always feel just awful. My background was terrible. I grew up alone and unloved. I learned from the streets. People always look down on me. Nobody cares at all.
That is speaking death to ourselves. Each of us has our own litany of “death sentences” which we say. And we are bound to beat ourselves to “death”. And is that the way we would treat our neighbors? If we look around at parts of our culture, the answer must be, “Yes, that is how we treat our neighbors.”
However, that is not how God wants us to see ourselves. He has made us His beloved children. How much better can it get for a human being? If we believe we are God’s children, then we must speak life to ourselves. I can succeed. People do love me. I do love myself…warts and all. I can learn to do new things. I am able to be a victor. I can say, “Hallelujah” and mean it…and I can love my neighbor. Just think how that pleases God. And think of the joy your neighbors will experience…and we will experience it as well.
We need to remember that is what we are about…pleasing God. We were not put on this earth to make ourselves and others miserable. No, we were put here to love one another and “Praise the Lord!” The positive power of the tongue brings life and brings it abundantly…to you, to me, to the people whose paths we cross.
Carol
Bible Breath: Children of God / Rejoice in Him
