Words.

Sometimes I wonder if it's all just words. If everything people say, is only said for the purpose of being said. With no meaning, no heart, no intentions. I wish it weren't, and hope it isn't. But it simply seems so logical. If people will lie to get what they want, then surely they will just as soon say things they don't mean to get what they want. I realize that that's a very cynical way to look at the world. But recent and past experiences lead me to believe that this is very accurate. Not always, and not with all people. But with many people and most of the time, humans will say (or do) anything they can to get their way in life- including spitting out meaningless words. I do think, though, that sometimes people don't even realize that there is no heart in their dialogue. We are all guilty of occasional empty language, so to speak. But some of us more so than others... including me. I've found myself lately really examining what I tell people. Do I do what I say I will do? When I tell someone I love them, am I just saying it, or am I promising them that? If I compliment someone, do I really like their shirt or do I only say it to get their attention or to look good?
I once heard a poem that went something like this:
"You are writing a gospel,
A chapter each day,
By the deeds that you do
And the words that you say.
Men read what you write,
Distorted or true.
What is the gospel
according to you?"
Read that again.
MEN READ WHAT YOU WRITE WITH YOUR ACTIONS.
EVERYTHING YOU DO IS A STONE IN THE FOUNDATION OF YOUR AND OTHERS' HISTORY.
ARE YOU REFLECTING GOD AND HONORING OTHERS WITH YOUR SPEECH?
OR ARE YOU WRITING A DISTORTED PERCEPTION OF GOD'S FOLLOWERS THAT MANY OTHERS WILL SEE?
Ephesians 4:29 says "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."
Is everything that comes out of your mouth helpful to others?
Does it enourage them? Build them up? Give them hope? Help them feel loved?
Or does it leave them discouraged, torn down, hopeless and feeling unworthy?
In Proverbs 15:4, Solomon instructs us: "The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit."
God can use our words to help others, to benfit them, to heal them. But if we aren't careful with what we say and purposeful with our words, then that same mouth that speaks beneficial things, can stab hearts. It can tear down, discourage, and crush spirits. As much as we may try to be careful with our words, we'll all mess up sometimes. It's because we're fallen humans.
But that doesn't mean we should give up trying to be helpful with the words we speak. We shouldn't say, "Well no matter how hard I may try, I'm still gonna mess up, so why even try?"
That's the wrong mindset.
The good our words can do, with God, is so much greater than the damage they can do.
If you want to check some of this out on your own, Proverbs is full of everyday wisdom, and James 3 is a chapter with some great advice on handling your words.

In conclusion, I'd like to share a recent story with you. A girl I know is currently in the breaking up process, and I actually just got "broken up with" as well. Obviously, it's beneficial for us to be going through this at the same time, cuz we can share scripture with each other and encourage each other with things God has done for us... not to mention sharing our frustrations and wishes for the past... of how various people (not just our "ex"s) had not said certain things... simply because they really didn't mean what they said when they said it, or weren't to the point that they were able to support their promises. Hawk Nelson, in their song "Words We Speak", helps us realize that people will make mistakes and say things they don't mean and leave us feeling empty. But in one of the last verses, they remind us that God won't do that. He will be there for us, when we are "so much more than incomplete".

{WORDS WE SPEAK.}
She woke up with a tear-stained pillow
She just broke up with a nice young fellow
All those tears you cry,
now it's time to say goodbye
You're on your own, you're all alone

We're better than the words you speak
So much more than incomplete
Figure out what life means out on our own
Words you say can't bring us down
We've all failed and hit the ground
Now it's time for us just to take control

Can't comply we're perfect in your eyes
We fall down but it's just a part of life

All those tears you cry,
now it's time to say goodbye
you're on your own you're all alone

We're better than the words you speak
So much more than incomplete
Figure out what life means out on our own
Words you say can bring us down
We've all failed, hit the ground
Now it's time for us just to take control

Now I'm here to let you know
That we can't make it on our own
What's mine is yours I'm letting go
You know I'd never doubt you
You know I'm lost without you
I'm giving you control

We're better than the words you speak
So much more than incomplete
Figure out what life means out on our own
Words you say can't bring us down
We've all failed, hit the ground
Now it's time for us just to take control