The Power of Choosing Kind Words



Hmm, where should I start?

Proverbs 12:25 says, “An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.”

This verse reminds me of two very different loads I can choose to carry every day. When I wake up in the morning I must decide: anxious words or kind words.

You’d think the choice would be easy! Take the kind words and be cheered up!

But the anxious words were so familiar when I was widowed. I was used to them. Some people would say I had a right to them. Here they are:

• It’s not fair . . .
• If only . . .
• What if . . .

One day even my wedding ring was sending me anxious and discouraging words. I know that sounds a little crazy! But I didn't hear voices or hallucinate. I loved my ring and never intended to take it off. But that day, it seemed like every time I looked at that ring, instead of stirring memories of the good marriage I had enjoyed, it would say, “You’re not married any more.” Of course that was true, but looking at my ring had become negative and painful, and no longer a sweet reminder.

I had recently been given my grandmother’s diamond ring. So when the wedding ring started sassing me, I took it off and put Grandma's on in it’s place. The new ring sparkled and seemed to say “good things can still happen.”

In the same way I can take off the anxious words and choose kind words.

Instead of “It's not fair...” I pick up on Eph. 1:3 which isn't very fair either, but is a much better deal! It says that God has “. . . blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ...” I sure don't deserve blessings like that! Yet God is gracious and generous.

Instead of “If only...” I replace it with “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made...” Psalm 139:14.

Instead of “What if...” I fill in the blank with “...whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Philippians 4:8

In fact, read all of Phillipians 4:4-9. It’s a pile of kind words. If you pick up this load of Scripture today, instead of you carrying it around, it’ll carry you! It's not always easy to replace our thoughts with Scripture. Sometimes it's spiritual warfare and a struggle, but God really can give us victory in this. If I can pray for you about this please let me know by emailing me at WCplace@gmail.com or send me a message on Facebook. We're not meant to struggle alone but rather to bear one another's burdens and I'm more than willing to listen and pray for you.
♥

ferree