GodReflection: Power Words
There is a dictionary of God’s power words and a dictionary written by Satan.
In the Garden–God said enjoy and trust. Satan spoke of knowledge and power.
I see the contrast again in the wilderness temptations of Jesus. Satan speaks of self-service, the spectacular, splendor, and Self-worship. The power vocabulary of Jesus is God sustains, God acts, and God alone merits worship and service.
Whether I like it or not words are a window to my heart. Jesus says, “A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.”
Recently, I finished Doris Kearns Goodwin’s biography on Abraham Lincoln.
Our former president was a man who was cautious in the timing and the selection of his words. He understood that words are powerful. His statement, “You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time,” is still recalled and quoted today.
Words from the soul reveal the man.
Here is what I think.
The direction of my life is revealed through my daily vocabulary. The words I choose to dwell upon will influence the core of my spirit.
Scripture shares two opposite sets of words. There are powerful words to describe the content and the process of growing like Jesus and there are alert words to rid from my vocabulary. Satan’s words—if paid homage—will allow his devilish influence to work its way into my life.
As I read Scripture, I pay attention to two lists. One list is God’s words and one list is Satan’s words. Both lists are explosive with power.
Understanding my life operates under the grace of God, living within His vocabulary I can move with inner peace toward eternity. However, I want to recognize and be aware of power words shot in my direction by Satan. Each of his arrows will inflict poison into my soul.
I desire to fuel my walk with God’s power words as I anticipate life upon the new earth. Over the next few weeks, let’s enrich each other as we identify God’s words for growth and caution each other to avoid Satan’s vocabulary.
Stay tuned.
Dr. Gary J. Sorrells – Reflecting upon Power Words
Gary@GodReflection.org
God Reflection 
Well said Gary. Thanks for the reminder. It makes me think of the reality that there is a spirit behind words, and it is so important to be reminded to chose carefully as to show by what spirit we operate. We may be misunderstood or even faulted for doing the right thing, including saying the right words, but it is good to be grounded in love. I am on alert when I hear the classic line “Did God really say…” whether in thought or conversation. Not to think ill of the person asking — or even myself for thinking it — but to be cautious where the spirit of doubt might lead me, and how it can so easily derail my faith by dividing my mind. This is a problem indeed, and I don’t like to offer up comments ending in problems so I will end my thought with hope.
Recently I have been comforted on the subject of doubts. The usual example we hear about is Thomas. But my go-to-guy is John the Baptist. He knew Christ first-hand, and yet when pressed by a prison sentence asked his disciples to confirm what he had once seen with his very eyes, the Lamb of God which takes away the sins of the world. John asked his disciples to inquire of Jesus, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” I hear love and respect in Jesus’ reply, a vision to remain firm, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” How thankful I am when doubts can be met through Christ’s words and the vision of eternal life they bring.
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