Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.
Ephesians 4:29 NLT
This past week, I had the privilege of participating in She Speaks Online 2021. She Speaks is an annual conference held by Proverbs 31 Ministry for wannabe speakers and writers. It was born out of a promise to God made by Lysa TerKeurst to teach women to more effectively share the story of Christ with words. It has been happening for about 25 years now and this was the fourth time I have been blessed to attend.
Before COVID, She Speaks was always held in a North Carolina conference facility with relatively limited space. In 2014 and 2019, when I attended in person, I found myself in the midst of a crowd of close to 800 women. I can’t begin to describe how awe inspiring and goose pimply that was for me. This year, attending online, there were participants from 50 states and over a dozen countries. Thousands of women! Can you even grasp the number of women who have been touched by this ministry? Hundreds and thousands attending for 25 years multiplied by the hundreds and thousands of people each of those women have touched in turn?
God is doing serious work in His host of faithful women.
You are included in that host!
For three days, I wallowed in a fire hose of teaching, inspiration, and worship. Even though it was all online, there was an energy that could not be missed. It was as if we were participants in an army – an army of women with our voices of love and peace raised loud and strong, speaking out for Christ with a laser focus. I wish you could have been there. You would have been goose pimply and teary eyed too.
Words are powerful. Remember, God spoke the world into existence!
Even from a distance, these women spoke life into me. Every word was encouraging. Every word was productive. Every word was life giving.
Out of all I learned and still have to digest, I came away with a renewed conviction that we must be more intentional about our words. Words have physical and spiritual consequences. They are powerful. They can give life, but they can also maim and destroy. We always have a choice in the words we use. We just don’t always make great choices, at least I know I don’t.
Words are powerful. They can give life, but they can also maim and destroy.
How are you using your words?
This week, I simply want to encourage you to speak life with every word that comes out of your mouth. Build others up with intentional words of encouragement. Refuse to use words that tear down.
Be the reason someone feels valued. Be the reason someone feels loved. Be the reason someone feels heard, supported, welcomed, affirmed, inspired.
Scatter hope everywhere you go by the words you speak. Make it your daily goal to add value to the lives around you.
May our Lord Jesus Christ…
comfort and strengthen you in every good thing you do and say.
2 Thessalonians 5:11 NLT
And while you are at it, don’t forget to speak life giving words to yourself. Whisper words of affirmation and kindness into your own soul. And listen as Christ whispers life giving words in your ear too.
Hugs and blessings,
Dear Lord, You have given me a big mouth, but I don’t always use it well. Please help me to be aware of the words I use as I speak with others, as I speak to myself, and as I speak with You. Teach me how to be more kind and affirming. Help me intentionally scatter hope everywhere I go. Amen.
NOTE!!!!!! DON’T MISS THIS!!!!!
Lysa TerKeurst’s closing message from the conference, 6/26, is on the Proverbs 31 Face Book page via video. I encourage you to listen to what she has to say because you will be blessed by her words and the Scripture she addresses. The message is for all of us. We do not have to make great waves for God – write a book, lead a ministry, be head of mission programs, preach from a platform - for our faith to count for good. We don’t have to be strong or wise; we can be broken and bruised. Christ still calls us to touch lives one person at a time. We can all do that.
I am reading a book called "Keep it Shut" by Karen Ehman. It is so appropriate in my faith walk that your message this week is about the same thing. I am learning and growing as I allow the Holy Spirit to convict me of this in my marriage. Blessings my friend!
The Bible speaks of the power and importance of our words, to build up or tear down, whether directed to another person or to ourselves. I like the prayer I heard long ago where someone said, "Lord, please keep your arm around my shoulders and your hand over my mouth." That's my prayer, too.
I watched Lysa TerKeurst's closing talk at She Speaks. It was excellent. I admire her so much. Thank you for recommending it. I'm glad the online experience was goose bumpy for you. That says a lot for a conference watched online.
Yes. You always speak kindly, encouraging words my friend. Thank you! ❤️
Always good words. Send love to you.