Words To Remember

The tongue has the power of life and death,and those who love it will eat its fruit.

Proverbs 18:21 (NIV)

Today, let’s talk about the amazing power of words for good.

I will never get tired of remembering what is said in Proverbs 31:26 about the godly woman: that “on her tongue is the law of kindness” (NKJV). Let’s make that our personal motto. Let’s be proactive in this.

I read a story about a teacher who asked her students to write down the nicest thing they could think of about each of the other students in their class. She compiled the lists and gave each of them the comments others had written about them. Many were surprised; all were smiling as they read them. A few years later, Mark, one of the students, was killed in Vietnam. His teacher and many of those same students attended the funeral. His father had Mark’s wallet. He carefully removed a worn piece of paper. “We thought you might recognize this,” he said. It was the very list Mark had received in her classroom. Other students gathered around. Charlie sheepishly smiled, “I still have my list; it’s in my desk drawer.” Marilyn said, “Mine is in my diary.” Vicki opened her purse and showed her worn and frazzled list to the group. “I carry it at all times. I think we all saved our lists.”

It seems like such a small thing, to speak kind words into another’s life. But this story reminds us that these are the words we are all starving to hear. They are like seeds that go deep and change our lives for good.

Make It Personal . . . Live It Out!

You cannot do a kindness too soon, because you never know how soon it will be too late.

I’m going to ask you to join me today in declaring this day a day of kind, encouraging, loving, and thoughtful words. For the next twenty-four hours, I challenge all of us to be on a mission.

Let’s Pray

Lord, please bring people to mind and people in my path who need to know they are valued. Use my words as weapons of hope to defeat discouragement. Use my words to build up those who feel weary and torn down.

One Year Bible Reading

1 Chronicles 5:18–6:81; Acts 26:1-32; Psalm 6:1-10; Proverbs 18:20-21