In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth… And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good… God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day. —Genesis 1:1-5
What a powerful God we have! He is the ultimate Creator and everything we know was spoken into being by Him. It is God’s spoken word that resulted in His new creation. God SAID, “Let there be light,” and it was so. God SAID, “Let the water under the sky be gathered into one place, and let dry ground appear,” and it was so. And so it was for each day. When God spoke, what He SAID came into being. Each day He ended His creating by saying it was “good.” There is power in His spoken word. And there is also power in our spoken word!
If only we all spoke with the same spirit and good intention as God, a great deal of hurt and pain could be alleviated. Our words have the power to either build someone up or tear them down. Of all the creatures on this planet, only humans have the ability to communicate through the spoken word and it is a unique and powerful gift from God that we should all use for good.
“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me” simply isn’t true. The pain and hurt caused by ugly words can stay with us much longer than a broken bone. Our words are so important that the Bible tells us in Matthew 12:36-37 that Jesus said, “But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken.”
We were created in God’s image, so why do we allow our words to cause harm instead of imparting love, inspiration, and hope to others? Words are powerful tools; therefore, we need to teach our children to measure their words and understand that what they say could significantly impact someone’s life — even their own — either positively or negatively.
So, what are a few things we can do to help our children train their tongues so that their words are chosen wisely?
Children need to be taught that one of the most important skills is to listen before they respond — especially when faced with a difficult conversation or situation. Being a good listener can prevent us from responding in haste and with the wrong emotion. Teach children to focus on what is really being said and try to understand the actual emotion behind it — really hear what the other person is saying or not saying. In responding, remind them to keep their words respectful.
While telling them to ignore a bully or turn the other cheek is the best advice, this is not an easy lesson for anyone to learn. Remind them that if they respond in anger and hostility, then the bully wins.
Kids today are bombarded by a world that continues to move farther and farther away from God’s loving plan for humanity. It seems as if people enjoy being offensive, and garner more attention for that than for speaking kindly. On the other hand, what a wonderful response you receive when you share a kind word! Therefore, we must teach children that they can either choose to help or they will be part of the problem.
When the children are with us — either at home or in church — we are setting an example. Do you choose the right words and deliver them in a godly manner? Children will mimic your words, so choose them wisely!
The power of our spoken word is extraordinary. Are we using our words as God intended?
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