Use your words!

Words have power! A single word can demolish a dream or restore hope in a hopeless situation. The Bible says, “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” (Proverbs 18:21, NIV)

For the next seven days, I would love to concentrate on seven words that can change your life! These words are “Thanks,” “Help,” “No,” “Yes,” “Sorry,” “Enough,” and “Ask.”

If you have children, you may have found yourself in a situation where they are so overwhelmed they cannot speak. They’re crying, distressed, and challenged. You feel helpless, so you encourage them with a small statement: “Use your words.” I believe God is calling each of us to open the door to the miraculous by using our words!

The first word is THANKS – a command, and it's how you should begin each and every day. We are to be filled with gratitude for who God is and all that He has done! God is worthy of our praise, which is why the Bible says, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, NIV)

Did you hear that? How is that possible? Because God never wastes anything! No matter what is happening, God has called you to respond with the word “thanks." Every challenge, victory, setback, and step forward is an opportunity to thank God for His presence and faithfulness. So take a moment right now and begin to say, “God, thank You for ___________.” Keep going. Allow your gratitude to flow.

One of my favorite, and I believe one of the most heartbreaking, scriptures in the Bible tells of ten people who were healed by God. Nine of them are so overwhelmed with their healing that they leave without saying anything. But one returns to utter a powerful word: “Thanks.”

“One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked Him—and he was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, ‘Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?’ Then He said to him, ‘Rise and go; your faith has made you well.’” (Luke 17:15-19, NIV)

May your miracle today be your gratitude! Let’s each be the ONE who continually says “thanks” for all that God has done! :-)

You are a miracle!

Grant

P.S. The texts of this reading come from the daily email A Miracle Every Day. If you would like to receive a daily encouragement, I invite you to subscribe to A Miracle Every Day.