Worry is one of the most rampant and destructive of sins. Everyone is affected by it – some entertaining it, others by second-hand residual effect. 

Yes, worry is a sin. Jesus said don’t do it. That pretty much settles it. 

It’s our nature, though! Indeed it is. And we’re supposed to be handing our old nature off to Him and receiving His nature as ours. But that’s not what I want to focus on today. 

I want to look at the second part of the verse. “…an encouraging word cheers a person up.”

We who bear the name of Christ are to be helping our fellow believers in all ways possible. It proves to the watching world that we are followers of Jesus. 

The power of an encouraging word is incredible. An encouraging word can stop a suicide while a disparaging word can lead to it. God says the tongue has the power of life AND death. We have to choose which we will wield. 

James said we can’t control the tongue, and that’s true. We must turn it over to the Lord, asking the Spirit of God to rule it for us. When we do that and we seek opportunities to use it for life, we become a powerful tool in God’s army. 

Most of us have heard more disparaging words than encouragement over our lifetimes, but God says we should encourage, so we can. Imagine the words you would like to hear, then say them. 

You get to speak life into every person you encounter, whether in person, on the phone, or on an online call. Use the opportunity to build instead of demolish. You’ll be recognized as one who follows Jesus. 

Coff…. 

Oh! Before we’re done… why not look in the mirror and say those things to the person you see there? Grant that one words of life instead of death? 

My norm used to be “You’re such an idiot!” whenever I made a mistake, dropped a glass, etc. I was speaking death into my own life! Now, the words start to come out and I change it mid-phrase to “You’re such a normal person who makes mistakes. Progress, not perfection!”

You can do this. You’re pretty awesome, you know. 

Coffee, Bible, Journal.