Word Medicine

 Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.- Proverbs 16:24

    There is power in speaking kind words to people we meet. Our words can be life to dry bones. We never know what people have been through. Our words could be healing oil on their wounds, some wounds they've carried for decades. The Bible asks us to,"encourage one another and build one another up" - 1 Thessalonians 5:11 

    Just like rain to a garden, our words have the ability to give life to those who are wilting.When we see wilted, discouraged and fearful people, it may be because they haven't been watered in awhile. Let's shower people with affirmation and acceptance. Let's use our words to energize and comfort those we meet. As Christians our mouths are fountains of life (Pr10:11). We are told to, "Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."- Ephesians 4:29 and to "...consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds..." -Hebrews 10:24 One of the best ways to stimulate one another toward love and good deeds is with our words. 

    There is no such thing as silence. When we don't affirm people, the enemy fills that void with lies and insecurity.  When we don't speak, the enemy will. If we want people to blossom and  use their gifts to their fullest potential, we must learn to encourage one another.

    If we've grown up with an unlimited supply of affirmation, surrounded by parents that gave us encouragement and people that lavishly praised us, then we may not be aware how starved for acceptance others may be. A daily dose of positive words spoken over someone will perk up those wilted petals. We never know the thoughts people are rehearsing in their minds about themselves, these thoughts have the ability to paralyze someone, cause them to stumble, even miss opportunities that were destined for them. 

    Often times we take someone's reserved nature as a negative. As if they are judging us or have a bad attitude, but in reality they are struggling with a spirit of rejection and a few healthy doses of affirming words could be the cure. Job 4:4 says, "Your words have upheld him who was stumbling, and you have made firm the feeble knees."

     It's the same as a doctor's prescription. The prescription does not usually read, "Take once. The End". It usually says something along the lines of "Take 3 times a day for two weeks". The same is true with healing words. It takes a consistent dose of "word medicine" to bring about change. God may have put someone in your life for a season for this very reason.

     Words are powerful. They bring life and death. We will never understand the true power of spoken words over one another as seen in the spiritual realm, but we can see their power transform a fearful, hesitant person into one that is firm, empowered and confident, right before our eyes. The Bible says, "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver." -Proverbs 25:11, " The right word at the right time is like a custom-made piece of jewelry" - MSG 

     A blessing spoken over someone is like the gun shot that starts a race. Many stand at the starting line their whole lives waiting for something but not knowing what. It's the spoken blessing. A potent dose of "word medicine" could be the very thing to fire the shot that frees them to begin their race.