Speaking up Loud & Clear

Words. We hold so much power with the gift that we have been given by God. Ever really thought about how precious this gift is that we have been given? No wonder the Bible says that the power of life and death are in the tongue. God never entrusted this gift to any other of His creation ... except us ... His beloved children. While all creation has a voice and can be heard in different ways ... only we have been entrusted with the gift to speak words. What a precious and powerful gift those words can be. With this gift comes great responsibility to each of us. Everyday we hold the power to build up, encourage, edify and breathe life, hope and love into one another and each others dreams or we have the power to discourage, hurt, confuse or tear down. The choice is continually before us.  When we add action to our words, they speak even louder.
Everyday we use this gift. How much of what we say blesses? How much of what we say causes someone else to smile? How much of what we say shows that we believe the best in each other? Sometimes I forget that scripture tells us that we will all stand accountable before God for the way in which we use our words.
I write this as an encouragement, because we can make such a difference in one another's lives when we speak words of life, encouragement and love. Just as important is to be speaking words of life and truth over ourselves! When we change what we believe about ourselves, the overflow is love towards others.
Psalm 19:14 says "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my (firm, impenetrable) Rock and my Redeemer." Whatever we are meditating on (thinking over and over about) eventually has a way of becoming what we talk about. God is encouraging us today to fill our thoughts with the truth of who He says we are and to be speaking those words of love and life over ourselves and each other.
Proverbs 23:7 says "For as a man thinks in his heart, so is he." Joyce Meyer always says "where the mind goes, the man goes." Are you believing the truth about how treasured you are in your Father God's eyes?
Here's the last verse I want to encourage us all with today:
Ephesians 4:22-24 "Strip yourselves of your former nature (put off and discard your old unrenewed self) which characterized your previous manner of life and becomes corrupt through lusts and desires that spring from disillusion; and be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind (having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude), and put on the new nature (the regenerate self) created in God's image (Godlike) in true righteousness and holiness."
When we surrender our hearts and lives to Jesus, Father God looks at us and no longer sees that "former nature" and all the mistakes we make. No. He sees a new, Godlike nature because He sees the righteousness and love of Jesus Christ all over us. Today He is speaking His words of love over each of us reading this post. He is reminding us that we love Him because HE FIRST LOVED US! The more we meditate on how rich His love for us is, the more we will love and encourage those in our lives with His words and embrace of love. May we use our gift of words richly today! Let's speak up and let love pour out :0)
All my love xxx
Janine