Proverbs 18:21 AMP ‘Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it and indulge it will eat its fruit and bear the consequences of their words.”
12-year-old Cynthia sat at our kitchen table waiting for her dad to pick her up. Her countenance was heavy, her demeanor sad.
‘I have depression,’ she said. ‘I have no friends, no life,’ she spoke not making eye contact with us but looking down at the orange and red tablecloth. ‘I don’t want to school or do any of the things I used to,’ she continued. ‘I just want to hide in video games.’
Precious children, please be careful what you speak, especially about yourself.
Words have power. God spoke light, water, land, plants, seeds, sea creatures, and land animals into existence. Now, our words may not have God’s miraculous, creative powers but they are still powerful.
You understand the power of words because you know when someone says to you ‘well done, great job, you are amazing’ words to you, you feel better about yourself. When people say to you ‘you are smart, funny, beautiful or handsome,’ your spirits are lifted (mine too.)
If you say negative, harmful things about yourself, you will tend to believe those things and act those ways. If you say ‘I am fighting depression rather than I am depressed’ you will fight and overcome your depression. If you reframe ‘I just want to hide’ to ‘I’m going to spend less time hiding’ guess what? You will come out of your room more.
What you say about yourself is so important. God doesn’t make junk. He doesn’t make depressed people, sad people, defeated people. He may allow us to experience depressing, defeated, sad moments but those are just moments and not who we are.
He says we are His treasured possession (Deuteronomy 7:76), His masterpiece (Ephesians 2:10), precious (Isaiah 43:4), chosen, beloved (Colossians 3:12). God is not a liar (Numbers 23:19, Titus 1:2, Hebrews 6:18). His words are those truths about you and you can believe Him.
Be careful what you speak.
Ephesians 4:29 ESV ‘Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.’
Father God, may You set a guard over our minds and lips. May You protect us from wrong thinking and wrong speaking may we grow in understanding how precious we are to You and let Your words speak life, joy, peace and hope into us, always. In Your Name Jesus, we pray. Amen.