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How to Bring Life with Your Words
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Hello men, welcome back to the podcast! What if the words you speak could shape the identity, confidence, and future of those you love—just as the blessings of fathers did in the Old Testament? Let's talk about it today!
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The PursueGOD Men's podcast helps guys apply God's Word to their lives to become full circle followers of Jesus. Join us for a new men's episode every other Thursday.
Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/men.
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In the Old Testament, the blessings of fathers to their sons just seem to jump off the page. Isaac to Jacob and Esau, Jacob’s blessings over his sons.
Controlling our Tongue
Our words have the power to bring life or death. We should work to use our words to encourage and build up those around us.
Ephesians 4:29 Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.
Proverbs 18:21 The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
James 1:19-20, 26 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.
James 3:3-6 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
James 3:9:10 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.
Offense vs. Defense
Controlling our tongue to not respond harshly or critically is the first step. We can then learn to use our words to bring blessing and life. This takes intentionality and for most of us, practice. It is important to speak words of affirmation to those we love.
Mark 1:9-11 At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
Mark 9:7 Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”
- Our children need our encouragement. If God the Father publicly affirmed God the Son, how much more so do our children need it? Jesus knew exactly who he was. He had no questions about his significance or value or identity. Can our kids say that?
- What if your child’s primarily love language is words of affirmation? They need it even more. Probably need it even more than you do.
- Speak affirmation on the things they can control. I’m proud of you. You are a blessing to me. You’re wise. You’re humble.
Significance of Ceremony
Creating opportunities for more formal statements of blessing and encouragement can have a deep impact. There is power in ceremony. Look for significant events in the lives of your children and use those as opportunities to bring life with your words.
- Starting school, Starting Jr. High, starting HS, purity talk, First job, Driver’s license, graduation, first date, marriage, first child, purchase of a home or moving to a new location
- Work at it, write it down
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