31 Day Daily ChampionNäide

Proverbs 15:4

Kind words heal and help; cutting words wound and maim.

PRINCIPLE:

Speak kind and comforting words.

As men, we cannot underestimate the power of our words. Don’t brush this off as extreme. One of the most important lessons I’ve ever discovered is that words matter.

We need to build a partition between our mind and tongue to allow a filter to inspect and approve the words we speak. They should be words that heal and help rather than wound and disfigure.

The prophet Zechariah was speaking with the LORD in a vision. After explaining a coming event upon the earth, the LORD turned to speak kind and comforting words to the angel accompanying him. (Zechariah 1:13)

This is so characteristic of the LORD, concerned with a lower-ranking angel and how he needed to be comforted with kind words.

I grew up in an atmosphere of harsh, hurtful, and haunting words: curses, cussing, and disparaging words were the norm. I have a relative whose those words have maimed. He has a deep wound of bitterness because of harmful words. Decades later, those words still ring within his ears as if he had just heard them.

Our words can have the opposite effect as well. I recall words that my High School principal spoke to me upon graduation; his words have continued to be a lasting encouragement.

We should be very considerate of those who are within our hearing.

REMEMBER:

Words matter.