I suppose it’s only fitting that I introduce myself to you, as that is what most people do upon meeting each other. I am the youngest born to my father Emery and my mother Sharon. I’ve been called a lot of things in my life, but you may call me Sophie West, and I’m a twenty something year old whose passion revolves around three things; My God, my family and words. These areas that I have centered my life on are seemingly typical responses to the age old question “What is important to you?” Well the first two are in any happenstance. Americans the world over have professed a deep and abiding love for God and family. But the two that I’m going to focus on are My God, and my words.

Proverb 18:21 (ESV) Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

Many of us have read this scripture. We’ve penned it in our journals. We’ve heard it from our mentors, pastors, parents even our church friends. “Your words have power,” they tell us, but just like so many things that we hear this very principle that should be foundational in each of our lives goes in one ear and out the other.

I’m here to tell you, Words. Have. Power. No if, ands, or buts about it. Do you realize that the ground that is beneath your feet, the sky above your head and the sun that gives you light, were all created with a word? God spoke, and created something from nothing. I don’t know if that statement wows you as much as it wows me. If you know anything about the laws of science you know that matter/energy can neither be created nor destroyed. It can only be changed. Water is a great example of this scientific principle. It can be solid, liquid or gas. Let’s talk briefly about the last state of water. Once water evaporates and becomes a gas it’s no longer visible to the naked eye, but just because you can no longer see it doesn’t mean it’s no longer there. It goes through its cyclic pattern and returns to earth in some form of precipitation. If you set water to boil, walk away and forget about it (we’ve all done this at some point in our lives) it may disappear, but that doesn’t destroy it. Though you may have to deal with the consequences of a burned pot. Rain operates on the same principle. It doesn’t appear out of nowhere.

God spoke and created something from nothing. God isn’t governed by the laws of science.

Genesis 1:1-3 (ESV) In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said “Let there be light. And there was light.”

God spoke and the state of the universe had to change. I say again words have power. I’m going to remind you that we were created in the likeness of God.

Genesis 1:26 (ESV) Then God said, “Let us make man in our own image, after our own likeness.

It follows that if we’re created in the likeness of God then our words too have status changing power. My question to you is what are you speaking? Are your words life giving, or death bringing? Are you speaking blessings or curses?

This may seem like a lot. I’ve thrown some scripture your way and mingled it with science. The two aren’t typically mixed, but I assure that science and scripture are opposite sides of the same coin. But that’s another lesson for a different day.

How about a practical application of the power of words? I’m a girl. If you weren’t aware of that now you are. It’s not easy to be a human in today’s society. We’re being told what to wear, how to look, how to act, but it’s particularly difficult for women. We’re held to a certain beauty standard, and the standard changes rapidly. In the 40’s and 50’s having curves was beautiful. In recent decades being rail thin is what’s in. Age isn’t attractive these days, when once upon time having grays was something in which you could take great pride. The standard changes so rapidly that we are no longer comfortable in our own skin. We chase the next fad hoping that the world will see us as beautiful, and when it doesn’t we’re crushed.

The sad thing is most of this behavior that manifest in a woman’s every day comes from a deep seated insecurity. Many of these women weren’t told, “You’re beautiful just as you are,” as children. They weren’t told “You’re fearfully and wonderfully made.” Or their insecurity could be the result of being teased by other children. Insert the ever popular saying kids are cruel. These circumstances are enough to damage anyone’s self-esteem. Especially that of a young girl.

Self-esteem is a funny thing. Webster’s tells us that self-esteem is “a realistic respect or favorable impression of oneself; self-respect.” But how we feel about ourselves is at times so dependent on what others say about us. The words they speak about us. And for me the most important words that were ever spoken over me came from the lips of my father. My dad (yes I’m beaming right now) is the best man I know. And I say that with completely confidence and unwavering faith. My father never let a day go by where he didn’t tell me I was beautiful, that he loved me and that he was proud of me. Day after day, year after year, he sowed these words into me. Words of life. So when a kid at school didn’t like my hair, or told me I wasn’t pretty instead of taking those words to heart, instead having them shatter the fragile world that I had built around myself as a child, they bounced off me like a rubber ball off of concrete. Their words of death couldn’t replace the words of life which had already taken root in my heart. They said “you’re not pretty.” And I said “Well that’s not what my daddy thinks.”

My special brand of self-esteem came from my father. And I don’t run to the world seeking the latest beauty fad. I don’t run to the arms of each and every man who tells me I’m pretty. I don’t

yearn for others to see me as beautiful, because my father first saw me as beautiful. He didn’t just see it. He SPOKE it.

Words have power. I ask again, how you are using them? Are you speaking life over your children? Or are you calling them stupid, and making them believe a lie. Are you creating a stronghold in their life with your words?

I was struck by the powers of our words when I was in 4th grade. To this day I can remember reading a poem that was penned by someone very close to me. It was written about a child’s relationship with their parents. It is as follows:

You told me I was nothing. So nothing I became.

You said that I’d go nowhere. Here I still remain.

You told me I was stupid. I did terrible in school.

You told me I was horrid. For you I became cruel.

You told me that I couldn’t. Now I know I can’t.

You said I’d always fail so I never took the chance.

I live a wasted life, and dream of things I’ll never be.

But I did everything you said. Aren’t you proud of me?

Words have power. I caution you to think about the words that are coming out of your mouth. You say things flippantly, but your words weigh more than you could ever imagine.

The Bible talks about taming the tongue in James 3. I urge you to read it. I love words, but they should be used to impart knowledge, to build up others, and to change circumstances for the better. They should be used to shape the lives of our children, and to combat the lies of the enemy. But most importantly words should speak life.

Death and life are in the power of the tongue. Choose life.

With love,

Sophie West