"A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. 2 The tongue of the wise uses knowledge wisely, but the mouths of fools pours forth foolishness."
Proverbs 15:1-2 NKJV
Recently a study group in the USA found that negative words release stress and anxiety-induced hormones in subjects. Additionally, a study found increased levels of anxiety in children associated with higher rates of negative self-talk. Words are so powerful and basically, once spoken out have the ability to achieve what they are sent out to do. This is why God's words says in Isaiah 55:11: 'So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.'
Alternatively, once a negative word is spoken out, it is too late to retract it. It can be forgiven but never forgotten.
It is not so much what we say but, how we say it. Words spoken out in anger or in a rude outburst, can be destructive to the hearer. A person of wisdom can speak the message out in a restrained and edifying way by exercising self-control and still get the message over. Responding gently turns away wrath. The wise speak sensitively but speak the truth also.
One of the things that we need to overcome, is our self-talk. We all do this and often it can be quite damaging to our self esteem. Someone may hurt us by speaking damaging words and we take them on board and begin to own them in such a way that they become a part of us. We can begin to believe them, speaking to ourselves accordingly and before we know it, all of our self confidence has diminished. The best way to deal with this - and it is difficult - is to refuse to take it on board and refuse to allow it to rule in our hearts. This takes practice as the comments keep flagging up in our minds. The apostle Paul provides a formula in 2 Corinthians 10:4-6 'For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.'
This is God's formula for dealing with words and thoughts that torment and maim us and gain control over our lives. It is something that we need to take on board so that the words we speak or receive are wholesome and edifying Ephesians 4:29.
Copyright 2021 Grahame Howard
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