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I was around age 14. I had a dream in my heart and skip in my step as I decided to make a declaration regarding what I wanted to do with my future. I was known as the “quiet one” so it was shocking, even to me, that I decided to blurt out my newfound revelation and giddy surprise. I couldn’t help myself. I did it!
I’m not sure what I expected. Maybe a “That’s great!” or “If you work hard…” I didn’t receive a reply even remotely close to those sentiments. The words returned back to me were, “You can’t do that.” followed by, “No way. It won’t happen.”
Ouch.
Do you realize how much weight words hold?
What I understand at age 40, that I was oblivious to at age 14, is insecurity causes our tongues to lose the sweet flavor of grace.
Have you ever spoken out of insecurity? Yeah, me too…
Insecurities can cause us to speak unkind remarks. Sometimes, we think so little of ourselves that we don’t realize our words actually contain power. We devalue everything we think and say, so we expect everyone else will as well.
Regardless of the value we place on ourselves, the words we speak can change a life.
I’ve lived to regret many slips of my tongue. I cringe when I think of instances where I could have damaged someone with an unkind word.
Through intimate revelations of God’s love in my life, and recognizing the value He placed on me when He chose to remember my name on the cross, I’ve learned what an honor it is to speak life and love to others.
When we diminish who we are, who God created us to be, we are more likely to cut others with our words. And, we are prone to contribute towards the death of their dreams…
However, when we recognize our worth in Christ, we taste sweet grace and allow it to flow freely in the lives around us.
We have two choices: We can either kill dreams or help strengthen them.
Do you know that when Christ gave His life on the cross, He did it with YOU in mind? Your life is valuable to Him. Jesus paid an extremely high price for you. Do not devalue your worth. He determined it already and YOU are priceless!
Speak life and strengthen dreams!
