Keith Chandler, Journey Christian Church
I want to talk to you about the remarkable power of our words.
The Bible says in Proverbs 18:21, “The tongue has the power of life and death.”
Our words can help a relationship grow or die. With words we have the remarkable power of life and death in a family, a marriage, a dating relationship, and everywhere else. Words can be vile and vicious.
“Blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right!” James 3:10 (NLT)
Maybe you had people in your life that built you up and spoke words of life to you. Maybe you had the opposite.
In Genesis, God took a situation that was formless and void, and God began to create. He said, “Let there be light, and there was light.” God created the world with words. With your words, you can create the world around you that you want to live in.
Here are 5 types of communication that can be life-giving in every relationship you have in your life:
1. Affirmation. There are no neutral words. Ephesians 4:29 says, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Tell your wife how much you love her, tell your husband how much you respect him, tell your children how special they are.
2. Affection. We need to be affectionate with those in our lives.
3. Listen. Proverbs 17:28 (NLT) “Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent; when they keep their mouths shut, they seem intelligent.”
You look so smart and intelligent when you just shut up.
James 1:19 “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak.”
4. Speak the truth in love. You have to talk about what’s wrong, what’s not working right in a relationship. You have to talk about wounds and hurts. But don’t say those words in a way that frightens or intimidates the other person. You speak the truth in love and you let the Holy Spirit of God change people. Let me give you one more life-giving word.
5. Prayer. What do you think might happen in your stuck relationship if you took that person’s hand and said, “Let’s pray and ask God to help us.”
If you can’t grab their hand, then go to God yourself.
Pray and ask God to change you. I wonder how many broken relationships would begin healing today if we just asked God?
Until next time, Keith
Sunday service 10am
7708 Van Dyke Rd. Odessa
www.tampajourney.com