Proverbs 12:25 Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad. (NKJV).

Our lives change direction as a result of a few simple words. Remember those words we confessed at the alter “I will”, and our life was never the same. Remember those words (as it is nowadays) “Achieved”, “Passed”, or, sometimes “Not achieved”.

Oliver Wendell Holmes once said; “Speak clearly, if you speak at all; carve every word before you let it fall”. Some of us have been the receiver of words that have affected us deeply. Words like, “You’ll never make it”, “You always mess up”, or “I’m so proud of you”, “I knew you could do it”, or, “I love you no matter what”.

I wonder when it was that you and I paused to wonder at the wonder of words! Words are amazing! Our lives are filled with so much stuff, technology, busy-ness, and rushing here and there. Words have the power to lift our spirits, encourage us, bring direction and change our lives. Even the words we think form ideas, some of which we put into action and thankfully many we don’t!

Here are four things about words.

1. Words are creative positively and negatively.

Proverbs 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit. (NKJV). In the beginning God created the world just by His Word! He spoke, and they were created. And, He holds them together by His Word. Hebrews 1:3 … upholding the universe by His Word of power … (RSV).

Because we are children of the King and made in His image, He has given us a creative power. It is in the words we speak. We can speak life or death. The words we speak can build and bless, or destroy and denigrate. Is it any wonder then that preachers and speakers the world over urge us to speak the Word of God. Because as we do we are speaking out His creative word.

Remember the story of Jesus where He teaches the crowd then asks Peter to put his boat out and let down the nets. Peter wasn’t impressed, because he was tired, they’d fished fruitlessly all night, and he was cleaning the nets ready to go home and rest. Yet, when Jesus says “let down your nets for a catch”, Peter, even though he tells Jesus he’d fished all night and caught nothing, at the Word of Jesus he would do what he was asked.

Luke 5:4-5 … “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless AT YOUR WORD I will let down the net.” (NKJV). (Emphasis mine). The lesson here is that when our “I will” matches His “I will” there’s the miracle. When our word is the same as His Word, when our word cooperates with His Word, stuff happens.

2. Words live on in hearts especially when they’re written down.

We have the amazing privilege these days of having the means of storing words for generations. In ancient times parchments of written material were highly valued. 2 Timothy 4:13 Bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas when you come– and the books, especially the parchments. (NKJV). Paul is at the end of his life. He’s in prison. He says he wants two things – his coat and his books. Paul exhorted Timothy to read (public reading and exhorting of its meaning, see 1 Timothy 4:13), yet he wanted his beloved books. Paul’s penchant for his parchments may be a reference to the originals of his Epistles.

We’re blessed with so many words recorded. We remember better the Words of God, maybe prophetic Words, because we’ve written them down. (Of course there are words we will never forget that live forever in our heart). But what words have we recorded to be passed on to future generations? What words have we committed to paper (or computer!) so that they will live beyond the memory of those who hear them?

3. Words help us express our worship.

I’m very thankful for the gifted songwriters who assemble words which help us express just what we want to say to the Lord in worship. David says; Psalm 7:17 I will praise the LORD according to His righteousness, and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High. (NKJV). And again; Psalm 9:11 Sing praises to the LORD, who dwells in Zion! Declare His deeds among the people. (NKJV). Singing songs of praise and worship is nothing new!

The following words were written by Isaac Watts (17 Jul 1674 – 25 Nov 1748).
Alas! and did my Savior bleed
And did my Sovereign die?
Would He devote that sacred head
For sinners such as I?
Thy body slain, sweet Jesus, Thine—
And bathed in its own blood—
While the firm mark of wrath divine,
His Soul in anguish stood.
Was it for crimes that I had done
He groaned upon the tree?
Amazing pity! grace unknown!
And love beyond degree!

I just say wow! Fantastic! Yes! Aren’t those words just great! The doctrine, the passion, the honesty, the depth of feeling they help us express to the Lord. Too many of our songs today (this is my personal feeling) are weak doctrinally, shallow, hardly Biblical and repetitive. But that’s just my opinion.

4. Words are food.

Jeremiah 15:16 Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; for I am called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts. (NKJV). What’s our word diet like? What words are we feeding on? Of course it must be predominantly a diet of His Word, the Words of life! What words are we hanging on to? What words are we speaking regularly to those near us and to the Lord? Our text for this Brief Word says that a GOOD WORD can make the heart glad. So let God’s Word dispel anxiety and bring gladness to your heart today. Then, go and speak a GOOD WORD to someone and make their day!