By Ever notice how powerful our words are?
If someone compliments you about your work or your appearance, it makes you feel really good right? It might give your confidence a needed boost or make you feel happy or content.
However, on the flip side, when someone criticizes us or makes a negative or hurtful comment about us, it has the power to tear us down. It makes our hearts ache, causes tears to spring to our eyes; it could make us upset, depressed, anxious, worried, and so much more.
The power behind our words is a gift that, unfortunately, so many misuse.
In Genesis, God spoke and things came to be. He said, “Let there be light.” And there was. God didn’t create light in a lab, or put animals together using ingredients. He spoke and things came to be. Throughout the Bible we see that when God speaks things happen. And because we were made in His image, we also have power in our words.
Now, we’re not going to make sunlight or create a new breed of animals from our words, but we have the ability to build someone up in encouragement, or tear them down in discouragement. We have the ability to speak life and love over someone, or speak death and negativity to them.
Similarly, we have the same power over ourselves. We can speak life overselves, encourage ourselves, and remind ourselves of the truth; or we can beat ourselves up, discourage ourselves, and throw ourselves into a bottomless pit of despair.
Proverbs 18:21 says, “The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.”
When you speak to yourself or another individual, ask yourself if you’re speaking life. Ask yourself if what you’re saying is helpful. Ask yourself if you’re speaking in love and out of concern. Examine the way you speak.
One way we here at by leaps and bounds have learned to speak life over ourselves is to have a word to help encourage us throughout the week. Something that will encourage us, remind us of God and our dedication to continuous growth, and to help us improve daily. And we want to share this method with you!
At the start of each week, we will post a Word of the Week and the encouragement you can glean from it. We pray that this will encourage you and help you grow in positivity and life more and more each day!
Maddisen Sauls is the smile and voice behind the Everyday Joy blog as well as the author of the Word of the Week posts and the editor of by leaps and bounds. Throughout her life, Maddisen has worked as a reporter for small town newspapers, a School Age and Preschool teacher, and has acquired her ministerial license.
An avid book reader and lover of the written word, Maddisen is passionate about using her favorite medium to reach the lost and the hurting, and to offer encouragement and hope to those struggling through life.
Following her battle with depression, Maddisen has made it her mission to help other people through this journey and to bring joy to the lives of the people around her.
You can find Maddisen on Instagram @maddisen.paige
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