Miss Ceely points her finger at Mister and declares, “Until you do right by me everything you touch gonna fail. ” She cursed him with her words or did she?
Bricks and stones may break my bones but words can never harm me.” This sounds true but has been found to be flawed.
Proverbs 18:21 reads, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” I am intrigued by the phrase “in the power of the tongue.” I would add “in the power of the tongue of the person speaking.”
The question how does one develop ‘power in one’s tongue’ leaps from this passage. The answers include such things as power, position, and influence relative to the status of the one to whom the words are spoken.
However, let’s think deeper. Was it Miss Ceely’s words or even the way she demonstrably said them that influenced Mister to fail? Did her words produce death to his livelihood? I think not.
The one thing that gave Miss Ceely’s words power was her character. It was the strength of her life, her integrity that gave power to her words. When you develop character you gain influence in relationship to others and your words matter. This is true in all adult relationships where the probability of abuse is eradicated.
If one has no character, her words either fall on deaf ears or are easily overcome by effort. You determine whose word influences you; don’t give that power away easily. Evaluate the person’s character and ask yourself if he has a right to speak into your life. If that person does not have character then speak back and reclaim your power. If she is a person of character, then analyze the critique so you can grow.
Mister, by his unwillingness to do the right thing by Miss Ceely caused his own decline. His conscience held back his blessing until he did the right thing. In other words his character grew and he regained his power.
My friends remember, “No weapons formed against you shall prosper and every mouth (word) that rises in condemnation shall be stopped (refuted); for this is your heritage (birthright) in the Lord.” The key is your character; invest in your character and your words will have power (influence).
BARRIER BREAKING ENTERPRISES 