With a word, God spoke the world into existence. And with a word, Jesus healed the royal official’s son and the royal official “took Jesus at his word” (John 4:50).
With a word, Peter betrayed his Lord. But later, he transformed his words, preaching a Spirit-led sermon on the day of Pentecost, and affirming, along with John that “we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20).
Moses did not think himself capable of eloquent words, yet God used him to declare to Pharaoh the freeing words of promise for God’s people, “Let my people go” (Ex. 5:1).
Words are powerful. Words have brokered peace and have started wars. Words can start a relationship, and can end it just as quickly. Words can affirm or destroy, build up or tear down, empower or imprison.
Words may not be written in stone, but they are written on our hearts in a way that shape who we are, guide what we do, and direct decisions we make.
What words are you listening to? Even more importantly, whose words are you listening to?
Just as in the cartoons, we deliberate over which voice to listen to: The little devil or the little angel; the lie or the truth. We deliberate like a jury deciding a verdict, weighing the evidence, and listening to the arguments on each side.
Who are you giving the last word? Who has the closing argument on the thoughts that swirl in your mind and threaten to overtake you?
(taken from chapter 2, Who Has the Last Word?, available for preorder)