Encouraging Words

When I was a young boy, one of the lyrics I would often sing went something like "Home, home on the range. Where the deer and the antelope play. Where seldom is heard a discouraging word. And the sky is not cloudy all day."  The song captured the image of an idyllic world, which included freedom from discouraging talk.

We don't live in an ideal world, not since the fall of man recorded in the Book of Genesis.  And despite the climate change/carbon footprint theology of our day, we can't control the weather to suit us.  We can't ensure ample crops or adequate hunting. We simply are not in control of our environment or circumstances of life.

However, we are in control of our expressions. We can't always control our attitude and feelings aren't choices at all. But we can absolutely decide our responses to circumstance and stimuli. We can choose to utter words that build up or tear down. Regardless of the weather or whether we live in abundance or want, we decide if words of encouragement or discouragement will come out of our mouths.

Not that "Home on The Range" is a hymn of the Church, but it does reflect God's will concerning the choice in negative or positive verbiage: "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen" (Eph 4:29).

Human beings are designed to respond well to encouraging words, we, in point of fact, need them. It isn't just enough to know or believe we are valued, we need to hear it. Why do you keep telling your wife you love her?  Didn't you let her know that when you got married?  Why do you keep telling your son how smart he is?  Haven't you done that already?  You keep on saying encouraging things because you innately know it is needed and helpful.

Did you know your employees, co-workers, church members, pastors, friends, etc. all would benefit from those same encouraging words?  We all do for one very simple reason, we focus on what is pointed out to us. If positive things are pointed out, that's what we tend to see. If negative things are pointed out then that is what we see.

The reason that is so important is that what we see conditions how we perceive ourselves. Listen to the words of Jesus: “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, c your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, d your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!" (Matt 6:22-23).  If we focus on positives, we brighten up. If we focus negatives, we are darkened or depressed in spirit.

By our words, we contribute to the spiritual, emotional and mental health of another and our self. What should you choose?  What will you choose?  Will you follow the teaching and example of our Lord Jesus Christ or not?  Jus' Ask'n.