This week we have a new writer of devotions. Wendy Berdan is one of the elders at LSA, and has been actively involved for many years in various ministries. We are all so blessed when God prompts people to use their gifts.
“Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones”. Proverbs 16: 24
Research shows that the average person uses (at least!) 7000 words each day. How do you hold up compared to that? Are you quiet or noisy? I think it depends on our temperaments and situations. I’ll never forget my son being told over and over again to keep quiet in the class. Apparently, he didn’t get that from me because I was always told I needed to speak up.
The words we use can either inspire people or expire our influence on them. I don’t think we realize how powerful they really are. Many times, a person talking about their early years will reflect on the words that were used towards them either positive or negative ways. One lady in her 70’s told me when she was in grade school, a teacher told her she was dumb after she answered a question wrong. I think subconsciously she held that belief for years and became a workaholic to prove to herself otherwise. On the other spectrum, I had one teacher in grade school who encouraged me with her kind words. At the end of that year, I got the “Most Improved Award.” I’m friends with her today.
All of us have failed giving people the encouraging words they long to hear. The Christian life isn’t about perfection but perseverance. There are people in our families, our neighbourhood, church, workplaces etc. that never get encouraging words. They drown in monotony and even hopelessness. Meanwhile, we have the antidote right within us. Jesus. His words encouraged the woman who got caught in adultery in John 8 :1-11. The shame and embarrassment must have been overwhelming for her. He challenges her to leave her sin and doesn’t condemn her. I was a single mom at 17 and felt shame similar to that. It was a few Christians that lifted me higher than my shame to a place of wholeness and humanity.
So, whether or not we use 7000 or more words each day, let’s be mindful to use them wisely. And if we do fail, Jesus is the one to rescue us from our verbal carnage. For He is the wisest wordsmith.
“At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. 3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4 and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” 6 They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.
But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
9 At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”
11 “No one, sir,” she said.
“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”
(John 8 :1-11)
“May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight , Lord my Rock and Redeemer .” (Psalm 14: 19)