Jen’s Gem: There’s power in your words. Choose wisely.
The other night a friend of mine and I watched “Moonstruck.” Yes, I’ve seen this movie a thousand times but it never gets old. Never. As each of us traded places quoting the lines as the actors mouthed them, it became even funnier. Amazing what we can remember! I don’t know my kid’s cell phone numbers, yet “Snap out of it” rolls off my tongue like my own name.
These belly laughs were much needed. It was a week, wasn’t it? I talked to many people who felt the same way. In most respects, it was a week like every other one recently, yet it seemed to be more challenging. It seemed to take on a different air. Is the weariness of the pandemic and worldly events catching up to us? Do we need Calgon to ‘take us away?’
One of my favorite emojis is the palm tree. I use it whenever the temperature drops below 70 degrees or when the morning coffee isn’t doing its job of transforming my sleepiness into the vim and vigor I need for the day. For that brief moment, I can imagine a warm ocean breeze on a tropical island without a care in the world. Ahhh…
However, a trip to paradise is not in the cards right now so what can we do instead? Well, a lot actually. First, we can be grateful. Second, we can do something for someone else. Third, we can change our words.
Despite all of the craziness going on today, everyone can find something to be grateful for. The fact that you are alive and reading this blog is an example. God woke you up this morning. He didn’t have to, but He did. So that means He’s got a great plan for your day today. See Jeremiah 29:11 or Psalm 118:24 if you don’t believe me.
Last week I was grateful for a negative COVID test. My son was exposed and so each of us had to get tested. I knew in my guts that we were both fine yet seeing the big fat “NEGATIVE” result was comforting. I spent a fair amount of my day yesterday updating someone’s website. I felt great afterwards as I knew this work would help them in some small way.
However, the most important thing I did to help me through “the week” was to change my words. When times are tough, it’s easy to rehearse our circumstances over and over. Our mouths spew out our trials like a Pez dispenser.
“I’m tired. How will I pay this bill? Why does he or she act so mean? I’m fat. I’m going to get fired. Why did she get the promotion? My kids are going to fail in school. I’m going to get sick. I’m never going to get married. It’s freezing outside. Traffic is horrible. People are mean.”
How do you feel reading all of that? Pretty crummy I’m guessing. Yet this is what we do when we are going through a challenge. We rehearse it over and over to ourselves and if that’s not enough, we rehearse it to everyone else! These negative words we speak over our lives are ingrained in us so deeply that sometimes they pop out of our mouths when we don’t even think about it. We struggle to “snap out of it.”
As a writer, words are my thing. I love words. I love how they transform into a story that encourages someone, makes them laugh, or maybe, if I’m really anointed that day, inspires them. I am hyper-conscious of the power of words, especially my own. This is why when I’m having “a week,” I have to pay even more attention to my words.
My natural tendency is to get dressed for the pity party. However I’ve learned that this is a recipe for disaster, which I wrote about in my book, “Finding God. Finding Me.” (Yes, that was a shameless plug!) Today, instead of rehearsing my circumstances, I rehearse God’s Word. I speak truth and life. I don’t rehearse what I see, I rehearse what I know to be true.
“I am healed and whole in Jesus name. No weapon formed against me will prosper. Nothing can separate me from the love of God. I can do all things through Christ who is my strength. God will provide for my every need. I am who God says I am. Nothing is impossible with God.”
I suspect you’re feeling pretty good reading those words, yes? They’re powerful aren’t they? You see, when we speak truth – God’s truth – our frowns are turned upside down. Our spirits are raised and the heaviness is lifted. We are able to ‘snap out of it’ knowing that God has us covered. He’s got this. He’s got you!
Years ago, I didn’t have these words to speak. I knew none of them so I only spoke defeat over my life. Today, I speak victory not in my own strength – no way! I speak the victory that God promises.
This week, I’d like to encourage you to pay attention to your words. If you find yourself about to speak a well-rehearsed line, stop yourself. Give yourself a smack in the face just as Cher did to Nicholas Cage. Speak God’s Word. Speak it over and over until you see victory. Speak it until you snap out of it.
Now that’s an Oscar winning performance!