“For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.”
Proverbs 23:7 (NKJV)
Words are powerful weapons. Even the weakest, unarmed person can cut another to the ground with nothing more than the power of the tongue. We have probably all experienced the deep pain of someone else’s hurtful words, whether careless or deliberate.
Some of the most hurtful words are those that purport to define another person. “You’re lazy.” “She’s prettier that you are.” “Why are you so annoying?” “You’ll never get it right.” These words often take root in the heart and color a person’s perception of him or herself. Jame 3:8 tells us plainly that, lest we allow God to tame our tongues, they will be “a restless evil, full of deadly poison”. Yikes!
So, mamas, we need to be careful of the words we speak to our children because they will believe that those words are true. Proverbs 23:7 (above) warns us that a person will become what he thinks in his heart. Therefore we need to keep watch over our mouths and prevent careless words from accidentally poisoning our children’s hearts and minds and robbing them of perceiving themselves as their Maker perceives them.
And if you mess up (as we all have)? Repent and ask forgiveness, then fix the problem (more on this next week).
Dear Jesus, the power of speech is so evident from the very beginning of Scripture: the Father spoke and the world was created. As my words will weigh heavily on my child’s heart, help me to “set a guard over my mouth” and “keep watch over the door of my lips” (Psalm 141:3) so that destructive speech will not be laid upon him. Help me tame my tongue and not speak words rashly or carelessly, but rather be “quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry” (James 1:19). In Jesus’ name, amen.
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