Words that Hurt, Words that Heal

 "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away." Luke 21:33

The words we hear and whether we believe them or not have such power to impact us for healing or pain. I understand the power of words. When my father told me how beautiful I was, I believed him. As a result, I rarely had insecurities regarding if I was pretty or not. No matter how unattractive I may have been to someone subjectively, because my Dad said it, I believed it. Or when my mother told me that I walked with such confidence that seemed to come from some deep inner source of truth, I believed her. I actually already believed to myself to be confident, but I took her words as a confirmation of my beliefs. Either way, her words had power. All words have power. Whether we realize it or not, what we say or do not say to our loved ones can make an impact on them long term, especially to our children. 

As a parent, I look to God to be my source of power when I need to receive words that heal. What we say as parents can make such an long-lasting impact on them. There are numerous Bible passages that speak to this. There are also many research studies have explored the effect harsh words have on children. 

The words we hear have power, but the words we tell ourselves have even more power. I desire that God's words to become my own. His words are true, they give life, they are transforming. 

I'm grateful for all of Jesus' words. When I dwell on them, there is peace that passes all understanding. Life is so distracting and can crowd out healing words. I choose to direct my mind towards God's words and embrace the abundant life that He desires to give. 

When I feel weak He says, "I give power to the weak, and to those who have no might, I increase their strength."

When I lack peace, He says, " I will keep you in perfect peace when your mind is stayed on me."

When I feel condemned, He says, "When the enemy comes in like a flood, I will raise up a standard against him."

When I feel attacked, He says, "No weapon formed against you shall prosper." 

If I choose to believe these words, what peace and joy would follow. I am grateful for these words. I am thankful that, they are slowly becoming part of the fabric of who I am. For all of these things, I am grateful.