I sat bewildered as I listened to the words spewed in my direction. I wondered if I was dreaming. This felt too awful to be true. What I said had been misinterpreted into something that simply was not true.
Had I been guilty of what I was being accused of? If so, where was the help? Where was the love that covers a multitude of sin?
I felt like everything about me was being attacked. But why? I felt crushed. How did I get here I wondered?
God! What is going on? Why and how was this happening? I realized at that point that I started to believe everything was my fault. I couldn’t see clearly anymore. Words were flying, trust was faltering. My heart was breaking and tears were flowing.
“I’m sorry” I must have repeated a dozen times. But, was I really who I was being accused of? God search me and know me. Try my anxious thoughts. See if there be any wicked way in me and lead me to the everlasting way. I know I am not perfect. I know I make mistakes, but had I gone off the deep end? By the words I was hearing, that’s what it sounded like. God, what is going on? I cried.
Words! No matter how many times you say they don’t matter- they do! What people say about you effects you. And truth be told, if you hear something long enough- you will start to believe it.
Words are powerful! With words God spoke the earth into motion! With words God said, “Let there be light”. With words God said, “Let us make mankind in our image” and with words, the serpent deceived eve! Our words have incredible impact! Sometimes our words can stay with someone a life time!
“The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” Proverbs 18:21.
Words can breathe life and words can breathe death!
So why am I talking about words-again? Because this past week, I realized that there were words spoken that I needed to be gone! You know the kind of words. The words that hit you like a frieght train. The words that pierce you when they were spoken. You know, those kind of words!
Maybe you were called something as a child and never forgot it. Maybe it was just the enemy using your own voice to belittle you: “You failure”. Whatever it may be I want to share what happened to me this past week.
… Lord, these words keep coming to my mind and every time I hear those words I am stymied by them…
I went to my bedroom and I prayed. God only you know exactly what’s going on. Only you understand this because you were there. You heard. Even if people were there they don’t understand what I’m dealing with because quite frankly I am me and they are them. You made us each differently. What may not effect one can devastate another. We are all different and although situations may seem a like they aren’t because we are all different! So God, I need you to help me with this, because I want to be over it. I want to move on.
I felt like God wanted me to write down the words spoken to me. So I did. I wrote it exactly how I remember hearing it.
Then, right below it I wrote, “God by your strength and might because you said not by might nor by power but by your Spirit, I reject these words spoke over me and into my life”
I did this to the two or three things that kept popping up into my mind that day. When I finished praying, it felt as though something sharp, that I didn’t realize was there, was pulled from my heart. I felt that the power behind the words had been broken. I knew the enemy would try and use them again, but the effectiveness they had before was gone!
I thanked the Lord because I felt like these words kept tripping me up. I’d take two steps ahead and get pulled back five steps.
About a week after that, I was listening to a podcast by Tony Evans. He was talking about words. He shared:
“The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing” Proverbs 12:18
I stood still- almost in shock! That’s exactly how it felt! The words coming in my direction felt like swords in my heart and when I prayer over the exact phrase it felt like they were being removed! I was like God you are incredible! He really is intimately acquainted with all our ways!
I wanted to share this because I know we have all had something said to us that has hurt us. And I am sure I have said something that hurt someone else. Words are powerful. They can be powerful for good and powerful for evil. I pray that this will help you be able to remove the swords of words that have penetrated your heart. God’s love for us is so unfathomable! He cares that you’ve been hurt. He wants to see you healthy again. He wants us to turn to Him to be our healer and our restorer.
I want to encourage you today to find some time and ask God if there are puncture wounds from someone’s words and ask Him to remove it by His power. He will!
And after you have prayed over them, do not focus on them. Do not give the words your attention. We aren’t suppose to live in the past, or in the future, but in the present. I realize this is easier said than done, but what was said was said. God has more for you and me. He deserves our attention and He deserves our words spoken about Him! So crank up some praise music and start singing to the one who heals, restores, replenishes and gives us life, salvation, hope and joy!
Thank you for taking the time to read! I appreciate each one of you- whether or not we have met :)!
