715,000,000 Reasons Why

Wouldn’t it be great if our words really didn’t matter? Ok, ok, before you stop reading, I’m being serious. I know that you know and I know that we all know that our words matter. But, just think for a second if they didn’t. We use and say so many words a day and I bet we don’t even consider the fact that each and every word does matter. 

But, if they didn’t would we speak as many? I guess the phrase, “watch your tongue” wouldn’t need to be used any longer. Ok, just wondering, have you ever worked with someone or for a boss that seems to operate this way? Or, maybe a coworker or a family member who just speaks words that makes an entire room cringe? I bet you have and I bet you know someone like that. 

In my life, I’ve had seasons where I didn’t have great control over my tongue. I think I had control over the words, but in my excitement to tell a joke or to get a group laughing, I let out some words that I wish I could have back. Have you ever been there? I bet you have, because I think every human being on the planet has experienced this. 

Words matter because they contain the ability to take up residence in our souls. Think about that. That’s heavy. When I was younger my grandma told me that…”sticks and stones could break my bones, but words would never hurt me.” I love my grandma, but she was dead wrong. Our brains and our souls are so positively or negatively impacted by words it's astounding. First, our brains are supercomputers and they can recall so many words that were said to us over the years. Second, our hearts are sponges and those words, either positive or negative, take up residence and just stick around. They may hide for a while, but they have the potential to be triggered and then they’re back again. 

So, here’s the reality. You and I have 715,000,000 opportunities to make our words matter. Isn’t that crazy? On average, most people speak about 11,000,000 million words a year and 715,000,000+ over a lifetime. Just amazing! 

And, consider what the author of the book of James said about the tongue and our words. “By our speech we can ruin the world, turn harmony to chaos, throw mud on a reputation, send the whole world up in smoke and go up in smoke with it, smoke right from the pit of hell.” That’s an amazing power that our words have. So you and I have a very important decision to make. Will we choose and use our words wisely or foolishly? 

The reality is, our words matter to God and they should matter to us. So, choose carefully and wisely and speak words that change the world. Mother Teresa said this about our words, “words which do not give the light of Christ increase the darkness.” And, Proverbs 18:21 says “Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit, you choose”.

Today is the day to choose words that breathe life into the world. Words that lift others up. Words that heal. Words that bring love, hope, joy and kindness. 

Yes, words matter. So, use words that matter.