Words of Life

Words of Life

Have you ever heard the old hymn “Wonderful Words of Life”* by Philip P. Bliss? The first verse and chorus go like this:

Sing them over again to me, Wonderful words of Life;

Let me more of their beauty see, Wonderful words of Life.

Words of life and beauty, Teach me faith and duty;

Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of Life,

The scrolling shapes coming out of the mouth on this painting represent words filled with life going forth to produce more life. With our words, we have the opportunity to bless or curse. With our words, alone, we have the ability to give hope, encouragement, comfort, help, life and so much more. Our mouths are windows and our voices instruments of good or evil, life or death. Whichever the case, the words we speak produce sound waves that affect not only the atmosphere, but also people—even ourselves.

In the wise saying of Proverbs we are told that, “From the fruit of their mouth a person’s stomach is filled; with the harvest from their lips they are satisfied. The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit” (Proverbs 18:20-21 NIV). Father God says, “This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live” (Deuteronomy 30:19 NIV).

I once read of a study about scientists discovering the effects of negative words and positive words spoken over two individual glasses of water. The water affected by the sound waves of negative words produced mold and eventually turned black. The water blessed with positive words remained pure and, I believe, even tested purer in the end. Think about it. Aren’t humans approximately two thirds water? Wouldn’t it be a good choice to speak words of life over ourselves and those around us? Isn’t that what we all really want to hear? Isn’t that what we really want to speak?

I also read of an astronaut, who, while on a mission trip in outer space, picked up the frequency of a radio station’s broadcast from decades earlier. I understood from the story that sound waves can go on forever, even through what we consider, solid matter. We’ve all experienced it: the sound waves of hard core music, or worse, penetrating to the core of our bodies; or the gently spoken words of love that bring comfort and joy unspeakable to our souls and life to our bodies. Considering that our words could go on forever producing either life or death,

I choose to speak life

into myself, my circumstances, and those in my sphere of influence.

I choose to fill the atmosphere with wonderful words of life.

For that purpose, I pray—Lord,
“Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips” (Psalm 141:3 NIV).
“Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer” (Psalm 19:14 KJV).

* Bliss, Philip P. “Wonderful Words of Life.” The Hymnal for Worship & Celebration: Containing Scriptures from the New American Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, the Holy Bible, New International Version, the New King James Version. 1874. Ed. Tom Fettke. Waco, Texas. Word Music, 1986. 270. Print.

By, Ginger E. Mosher