In today’s devotional, we delve into a timeless principle rooted in scripture, one that holds the key to daily victories in our work, relationships, marriages, and life. This principle is none other than the profound impact of the words we speak.
Proverbs 13:2-3 (KJV) (2) A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth: but the soul of the transgressors shall eat violence. (3) He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.
The Life-Altering Power of Spoken Words
The words that flow from your lips possess an extraordinary ability to shape the course of your life.
In the words of Jesus Christ himself,
It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63, KJV).
From the moment of birth, the very act of making sounds signifies the commencement of life. As infants grow into toddlers, the development of language is a significant milestone, marking their progress.
Words are the tools that enable us to express our thoughts and intentions. Even in romantic relationships, the exchange of words is the foundation upon which love and commitment are built.
The Power of Words in Relationships
Marriage, a sacred covenant, relies heavily on words. On the wedding day, vows are exchanged, binding two individuals in love and commitment. Yet, the importance of words doesn’t diminish after the ceremony.
In fact, in marriage, the continuous exchange of loving words is essential to maintain and nourish the relationship. Words have the power to uplift, encourage, and fortify the bond between partners.
The Spiritual Significance of Words
In the spiritual realm, the influence of words is even more profound. The devil understands the potency of words and often attempts to inundate our minds with negative thoughts, hoping we will give voice to them. Once spoken, these negative words can become our reality. However, we rebuke such negativity in the name of Jesus.
Choose Your Words Wisely
Today, I implore you to reflect upon the words you utter daily. The scripture from Proverbs 13:2 teaches us that by controlling our mouths, we safeguard our lives.
Avoid making statements that can potentially mar your life. Phrases like “I don’t understand my life” or “I am very confused” should not be part of your vocabulary. These words can invite negative forces into your life.
Words in Relationships
In your relationships, particularly with your significant other, be cautious of the words you use. Refrain from calling your partner derogatory names or making hurtful remarks. Words have the power to uplift or wound, and it’s vital to use them with love and respect.
Potential spouses, remember that your words can either build or destroy your partner. Treat each other with kindness and consideration. There is a significant difference between being a supportive spouse and one who inflicts pain with words.
Words and Parenting
Parents play a crucial role in shaping their children’s futures. What you call your children can act as a prophecy for their lives. Avoid negative labels and instead encourage and support your children to become their best selves.
Seek Help When Needed
If you find yourself enduring verbal abuse in a relationship, whether as a single person or within a marriage, don’t accept it as the norm. Seek help and counseling, as abusive words can have severe emotional consequences. Remember, marriage does not inherently change anyone; it is essential to address such issues before they escalate.
The Final Word
In conclusion, words hold immense power over our lives. They can either create or destroy. Choose your words wisely and speak life into your destiny and the lives of those around you.
When Your Lover Says These, Do Not Ignore. Mrs. Johnson became distracted and was falling in love with another man at her work place. She really loved God and yet she was sliding down the drain. She couldn’t believe it. Her mind was convoluted, and her emotions were like a roller coaster. She continually expressed her situation to her husband in very subtle statements, but her insensitive husband couldn’t decode the precarious situation.
On the other hand, George who was seeing Sandy was getting distracted by another lady. He tried getting attention of Sandy so as to fend off the new feelings, but Sandy did not have time for him, hence his vulnerability was amplified.
The reality is that statements made by singles in courtship or those married often show the depth of the trap within a relationship or marriage.
Even when you are not in any relationship as a single, your utterances can often reveal the kind of issues you have and that you need to address.
It happens all the time. Born again or not. Distractions set in. Traps come in various forms. Attacks in the mind and against the marriage are incessant.
Adulterous traps, akin to traps used to catch rats, are demonically placed all over. Snares, on almost every turn.
There are statements that your spouse or lover makes that show he or she is being distracted and needs your attention. Don’t ignore your spouse at such moments because you are needed to salvage the situation.
When Your Lover Says These, Do Not Ignore
What are those statements?
Here we go.
1. You don’t have time for me again
You are always around your spouse and yet he or she makes this statement? You need to pay attention lest somebody take your place emotionally. This statement is calling for you to make time available so your lover or spouse can have reassurance that will help deflect the new rush of feelings!
Do not ignore it!
Do not defend!
Do not argue!
Do not turn it into ridicule.
Just make time and have some deep conversations.
Let me drop a word for singles that are not in any relationship. When a single friend says this to you, he or she is trying to show interest and is weighing your reaction to know whether to pursue or retreat! Testing the waters!
So if you don’t like the person and you are not considering any commitments, you can reply with
“Which time now? I be your boyfriend / girlfriend?”
That is enough red light!
But if you really love the person, then you say something like this:
“Haba! You know that you are special to me, don’t you?:”
The person will get the green light to proceed.
When Your Lover Says These Do Not Ignore
2. You are far away from me When your spouse makes this statement, don’t take it lightly. Don’t fight or turn it into a quarrel. Listen to what is being said and what is not being said.
It is possible to be physically close to the one you love, and yet be far away emotionally. That is why couples who sleep on the same bed daily can often complain of loneliness. Sounds ridiculous? It’s the reality!
This person is telling you that the farther away you are, emotionally, the bigger the gap you leave for others to fill.
Married couples, prioritize your relationship with your spouse.
For those in a relationship, and not yet married, there is a twist to this statement. You need to find out if the statement is genuine or simply a call to give in to sex. Some tact and wisdom are needed here. Some decoding of words, and finding out of motives is required here.
When Your Lover Says These, Do Not Ignore. I will stop here and continue later.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I am not deceived
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, lead me in the right way!
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Psa 74:20 (MSG) Remember your promises; the city is in darkness, the countryside violent.
He Doesn’t Love When He Says These. As I said, problems don’t just show from the blues. They have always been there and would have been hinted at because out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.
We looked at two yesterday, let’s dive into the remaining today.
He Doesn’t Love When He Says These
3. Out of all my girlfriends, you are the best
This is often a logical way to manipulate the emotions of the lady. As a lady, I don’t really know what you are doing with someone who tells you out rightly that you are not the only one he is seeing. Are you encouraging adultery after marriage and giving him a go-ahead? Men don’t really change after marriage! When a man has the guts to tell you that he has several ladies as lovers including you, then as a lady you should have the guts to walk away from such affliction!
4. We don’t have to tell anybody about this relationship
When a guy begins to make this statement, your antenna should go up! Something is defective right there. There are no commitments when he hides the relationship from friends and family. There may be occasions when the parents are not interested in marriage and it is wise to keep quiet for some time, but at least, he should be willing to notify his pastor. What if he doesn’t have a pastor? The answer to that is another question. What are you doing with such a person?
5. I am just managing you and you should thank your stars
When a guy doesn’t love you, he will verbalize it one day, one way or the other. If you are sensitive, you can pick it up from his words. When a guy says he is just managing you, that sounds like wickedness to me. Probably the lady in question has a self-esteem issue, but as a lady, you don’t have any business with anybody that doesn’t value you or appreciate you as a person. After marriage, you don’t want to be treated as a doormat, you want to be valued as a true help.
He Doesn’t Love When He Says These
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I will not be deceived
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, show me what I don’t know
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Mat 12:34 (KJV) O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Disallow your relationship to be sex driven
Words are powerful. Once spoken, they can’t be unspoken. The reason you have to be careful about what you say or who you say it to.
On a faithful day, Jude looked his classmate in the face and called him a drunk. Not only that, told him he was a bastard.
Everyone thought it was a joke, because no one expected such from Jude.
Mr Johnson, his class teacher was shocked. He couldn’t believe his ears. Why would he use such harsh words on his classmate? Earnest?
How could he? He had taught him so many times about using his words to bless and not curse people.
Although Jude later said he was joking, the damage had already been done. How was he going to unsay what he had already said? What an expensive joke.
When you make coarse jokes at others all for the fun of it, it reflects back on your parents. People will think your parents haven’t taught you about manners.
You bring shame, embarrassment, and disgrace to them. People will call them irresponsible and probably say that to their faces.
So, when next you want to make a bad joke, remember your parents.
May God help you to remember How Best To Use Your Words, Amen.
Prayer: Lord, help me not to bring shame, disgrace, and embarrassment to my parents.
Action plan: Ask God for the grace to help you choose your words well.
Declaration: I choose to bless only with my words.
You must learn to deal with bad thoughts, because your thoughts create your words. How do your thoughts create your words?
For example, because someone stepped on your toes in class and refused to say sorry, you begin to dislike the person.
As you think those bad thoughts, the enemy tells you that you can act out those thoughts physically.
So if you wish for the person to trip and hit her head on the table, you could actually say it out loud.
You could say something nasty, that would make her cry of feel ashamed or something worse.
That’s how your thoughts affect your words. It’s like a volcano that is ready to erupt.
It spills out everything in it without any thought for those around it. It doesn’t care if its lava burns anyone.
More like you. You don’t care if your words hurt the other person. You feel hurt and just want to hurt the other person back.
You want them to feel as much pain as you do too. If not more than you do, as the case is sometimes.
Again you might argue that the other person caused it. Yes, they did you wrong but you had a responsibility to chose your words well.
Careless words stab like a wound. But wise words bring healing Prov. 12:18 ICB
The only way to show God how much you love Him is by obeying Him. Are you obeying God with your thoughts and words?
May God give you the grace to speak sweet and kind words to even those who hurt you. Amen.
Prayer: Lord, Jesus, I need your help with my words. Help me to deal with my thoughts so I can speak positive and life-giving words, even to those that offend me in Your mighty name I pray. Amen.
Action point: After dealing with your thoughts and words, how about apologizing to someone you said some unkind words to? Try it.
