I've never been one to have a temper or to say hateful things intentionally to hurt people. It's safe to say that I have a sensitive heart, it's apart of my pearl personality. Encouraging and building people up just happens to come naturally for me, so when our pastor at church started a new series called "Watch your Mouth" I thought it would be interesting but not necessarily for me. Boy was I wrong! Words can be so powerful. We all know that. We've been hurt by others, simply by the words that have come out of their mouths. I mean.. who hasn't survived a elementary playground?! Sheesh, kids are cruel! We have all been wounded and more importantly, we have wounded others by our words. As I reflected on this topic this weekend and what my words said about me, I found that my words were less about hurting others and more about hurting myself. I realized that while I may not be hurting others around me with my words, I was damaging myself by my own words of defeat and discouragement. How many times have we done that? Often times we are cruelest to ourselves, we say things that we would NEVER say to anyone else. That's what I want to share with you today..

If you aren't in the loop, I recently discovered I have a back condition that has prevented me from exercising. Daily activities exhaust me and I end many nights with a heating pad and motrin just so I can sleep. Physical therapy starts soon, but it's been quite the struggle for me. I don't know why it's been so tough... but the feelings of frustration and bitterness have been a constant struggle for me. Each day I dive into the Word and find His strength, but if I'm not careful words of discouragement, defeat and frustration creep in and pour from my mouth. Today I was reminded of how powerful our words are and how they direct the path that we are on. I was reminded that if I continue to speak words of defeat that is the direction I will lead... but if I speak words of victory and healing, likewise that is the direction I will go. (James 3:3-12) How can I call myself a Christian who believes God is bigger than any of my problems and is the ultimate healer if with the same mouth I declare defeat and delayed healing? It doesn't make a lot of sense, does it?! I just wonder how many are guilty of this.. proclaiming God can do ANYTHING.. that NOTHING is impossible with God, but yet in the same sentence we declare our defeat.

Even though right now my struggle is health related, I can't help but look back to my health and fitness journey, and the long and bumpy road it took me to reach many of my weight loss goals. There were times that I would beat myself up in the mirror, critiquing and criticizing the bumps and bulge. I wonder now how much easier that journey would have been if I would have spoken life into my journey rather than defeat? I love what proverbs 16:24 says, "Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body." We can choose to use our words to hurt and discourage or we can use our words to build up and bring LIFE into all area of our lives and the people around us. Today, I encourage you to reflect on the words that are coming out of your mouth. Are they words of life and encouragements or are the hurtful and full of defeat? Lets let today be the day that we spread more love, more kindness, and more appreciate for not only the people around us, but to ourselves as well.