HEALING WORDS

“Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.”- PROVERBS 16:24

Remember the old childhood chant, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never harm me?” Perhaps you used it yourself as a defense for the sting of a school bully. Perhaps, as an adult, you silently said it to yourself when your boss or spouse spoke to you in a negative tone. Or, worse yet, perhaps you’ve been the victim of verbal or emotional abuse.

What we say has the power to build up or tear down. James exhorts us to tame the tongue (James 3:10).

Have you ever considered how words can affect our physical and emotional healing? Have you noticed how we speak to others or to ourselves when we talk about illness or disease?

Too often, we make seemingly innocent statements like, “You are driving me crazy!” Or the more common one, “My back is killing me.” These words roll off our tongue as quickly as lightning, but we probably don’t notice the effect they have. In essence, we are speaking death — not life — to each other or to ourselves.

Ever wonder what kind of healing might occur if we would only use gentle and gracious words, as the proverb quoted above wisely admonishes us to use? Just imagine how many dry bones would come to life and how many hearts would be mended, if we thought about every word before we spoke it.

Lord, what results I would see for myself and others if only I’d use words of life for healing! Remind me of that each time I speak. Amen.

Go Deeper — Review scriptures which reference “mouth or tongue”. Post those in places where you’ll be reminded how precious our life-giving words are and how they lead to healing. Practice using them daily.

Praying in God’s Will

To increasingly reflect God’s glory in the world, ask for His wisdom and power.

Colossians 1:10-14

Paul fervently desired that the body of Christ—individually and corporately—become spiritually mature. The apostle asked that we believers would know God’s will and then …

Live a godly life (Col. 1:10). Paul prayed for our character, conversation, and conduct to be consistent with the Lord’s. Our lives ought to be an extension of His—with eyes that look compassionately at others, hands that offer help, and mouths that speak forgiveness and love. A believer’s character, while imperfect, should reflect Christ’s righteousness.

Make our life count (v. 10). God cares deeply about what’s done in obedience to Him. Jesus spoke about the importance of bearing much fruit, which is possible only when we stay connected with Him (John 15:5).

Experience God’s power (Col. 1:11). Through the Holy Spirit’s presence, we have all we need in order to do our Father’s will.

Remain committed and grateful (v. 12). God answers in His perfect timing. In the meantime, we should be steadfast in prayer and thankful for everything He’s already done.

Whenever we pray these verses, our petitions are in accordance with God’s will. And 1 John 5:14-15 tells us our Father responds affirmatively to prayers that align with His purposes.

“You Said”

But you said, I will surely do you good.

Genesis 32:12

When Jacob was on the other side of the brook Jabbok, and Esau was coming with armed men, Jacob earnestly sought God’s protection, and the ground of his appeal was this: “But you said, I will surely do you good.” What force is in that plea! He was holding God to His word—”You said.”

The attribute of God’s faithfulness is a splendid horn of the altar to lay hold upon; but the promise, which contains the attribute and something more, is mightier still—”You said, I will surely do you good.” Would He say it and then not do it? “Let God be true though everyone were a liar.”¹ Will He not be true? Will He not keep His word? Will not every word that comes out of His lips stand fast and be fulfilled?

Solomon, at the opening of the temple, used this same mighty plea. He pleaded with God to remember the word that He had spoken to his father David and to bless that place.

When a man gives a promissory note, his honor is engaged; he signs his name, and he must honor it when the due time comes or else he loses credit. It shall never be said that God dishonors His bills. The credit of the Most High was never impeached, and never shall be. He is punctual to the second: He is never before His time, but He is never behind it. Search God’s Word through, and compare it with the experience of God’s people, and you will find the two tally from beginning to end. Many an ancient patriarch has said with Joshua, “Not one word has failed of all the good things that the LORD your God promised concerning you. All have come to pass.”²

If you have a divine promise, you need not plead it with an “if”; you may urge it with certainty. The Lord meant to fulfill the promise or He would not have given it. God does not give His words merely to keep us quiet and to keep us hopeful for a while with the intention of putting us off in the end; but when He speaks, it is because He means to do as He has said.

¹⁾ Romans 3:4
²⁾ Joshua 23:14