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Words Can Change the World

On the 4th of July this year, our family watched a documentary about the founding of America. I’ve heard the story a million times, but it struck me anew. Particularly the fact that if Paul Revere hadn’t written down what happened at the Boston massacre and spread his report throughout the colonies, we’d likely all be British. This one thing united people who had previously operated separately.


Then again at the Continental Congress, words were written into a document declaring freedom and autonomy. There hadn’t been any victory yet. It was simply words on a page. We still celebrate the day that this document was signed almost 300 years later…July 4, 1776.


“Let there be light.” With those four words, God spoke the world into existence. He hadn’t lifted a finger yet. Simply used His words. He didn’t use His Hands until He created you and me. Words were enough to bring forth the universe.


Words seem cheap. They come easily. We’ve been hoodwinked by phrases like “Sticks and stones might break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” When indeed, it’s usually the words that do the most damage…the longest damage…the deepest damage.


As someone who writes, I’ve long admired the power of words to change destinies. Think of some of the greatest speeches ever given…Winston Churchill, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Martin Luther King, Ronald Reagan…their words inspired great moments of change.


Think about the Bible. Full of words that save, heal, convict, strengthen, and enlighten, this book contains the very breath of God. Its words continually come alive in our lives over 2000 years after it was written.


Words matter. Not only do they matter, but they contain power. I’ve watched them work wonders. A timely word can save lives. It can prevent failure. It can bring life to something thought dead. It can focus eyes back onto what’s important. It can change perspectives.


If we want to change the world, first we must recognize the power given to us in our words. We use them far more often to cut, to tear down, to complain, to point out what’s wrong, or to start fights than we do to lift up, to speak life, to agree with God, or to heal. I believe that a word change sometimes even comes before the heart change. Like the Declaration of Independence, sometimes we need to put a line in the sand with our words. We will no longer be ruled by shame, by sin, by slavery.


At one point in my parenting journey, I became seriously concerned about one of my children. No amount of discipline, scolding, or punishment was working to change this child’s heart, mind, or behavior. In this season, the Holy Spirit encouraged me to speak life into and over this child. I’ll admit that this was difficult to do. I was frustrated. I was prideful. I thought “I’m the mom. They should just obey.” But one day, I swallowed the irritated words on the tip of my tongue and instead began to share with the child all of the goodness I saw in them…their strengths…their gifts. Instantly, there was a shift in how this child began to show up in the world.


I’ve seen this happen again and again since then, when I’ve used my words to encourage, uplift, and shine a light on the good, the pure, the lovely, and the best. People suddenly see things that they were blinded to before. And it changes them. Almost as if a person's actions are in direct correlation to the words that are said to them.


I bet you can remember times in your life right now when words changed it. Maybe they gave you the strength to go on. Maybe they ground you to a dead halt. Maybe they brought a sigh of relief or maybe they wrapped you up in tension. Whatever the case, words affected you.


And they affect the people around you, particularly in your circle of influence. The closer you are to someone, the more important your words are in their life. And the more important their words become in yours.


I want to leave you with some practical steps for changing and choosing your words, but I’ve found it to simply be a habit change. Maybe a new life-giving habit begins with silence. Maybe you just stop saying anything for a while until you can get enough space to choose better words. Maybe you work with the Holy Spirit to find the root of the words that won’t stop spewing out. Sometimes we are speaking in the only way that feels safe to us. It might take some safety and healing to change our words.


Or you might just need to remind yourself often of how powerful words can be. That’s all I hoped to do today with this message I’ve written to you. Because simply becoming aware of how we are speaking or typing and what words we are constantly consuming can be the catalyst for change.


And you can change. It starts with words.


Words aren't just said; they are typed too.

 
 
 

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