What is the most powerful part of you? Maybe you would say it’s your brains, or maybe your infectious and influencing personality, or maybe like me you’d say it’s your muscular physique (just kidding!).
Every one of us has the exact same powerful tool. We have different IQs, different personalities, different body shapes, different backgrounds, different life experiences…so how can with all of these differences we all be in possession of the same powerful thing?
So what is it? I’m talking about our tongue. Go ahead and stick out your tongue and show someone your true power!
Proverbs 18:21 says that the tongue has the power of life and death. Did you catch that? Not just the ability to make someone feel better– you have the power to kill someone with your tongue OR the ability to give them new life. Have you ever experienced that before? When someone said a word that encouraged you…a word when you lost all hope…a word that put new wind in your sails.
Your words have the ability to literally direct a life.
James 3:3-4 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go.
I remember when I was in 6th grade I had a teacher whose words directed me in a profound way. It was a simple phrase and she said it only once but it was a rudder for my life. She pulled me aside one class after I had been cutting up and trying to make other kids laugh. She pulled me aside and said…I don’t know if you realize it or not, but you are a leader. The other students are watching you and will follow what you do. How will you lead this classroom? I was stunned. Me?!? A leader? I didn’t think I was…I didn’t know I could be. I didn’t really think others were looking to me. I could name a lot of other people who I thought were leaders, but not me. She saw something in me…but not only did she see it..she said it.
There is a big difference between seeing something and saying it. Where might you need to speak up and affirm something? Pray this prayer right now…“God help me to see what I should affirm this week.” My teacher told me what she saw in me and she used her words to steer me in a better direction. Just like a rudder of a ship. Here is what I want to challenge you to do: Spend your words each week influencing people to move in a better direction.
You’ve been given tremendous power. Will your words bring life or death? You get to choose!
