Christian Living

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The Magic of Words
By
Pamela S. Thibodeaux
(c)2001

We’ve heard so much about the magic of Harry Potter. Many say it’s a mystical tale of good and evil. Critics claim it’s dangerous. They say the author is teaching our children witchcraft and sorcery!

I believe it’s all about the magic of words.

Many people today don’t realize the power of spoken (or written) words. But, think about it. God spoke the world into existence. The Bible says that “the power of life and death are in the tongue and they that indulge in it shall eat the fruit thereof” meaning that our words will bring life or death (negative or positive) into our lives. It also says that “as a man think in his heart so he is” giving evidence that there is even power in thoughts which are merely unspoken words. Jesus said to the devil, “it is written” and though He was referring to Scripture, I feel that this statement suggests that there is also power in the written word. The Bible-the written Word of God- is loaded with Scriptures about the power of words and the tongue, especially in the book of Proverbs.

One of my all-time favorite ministers of God’s word, Joyce Meyer, made a statement one day that changed my life and challenged my way of thinking. She said, “hurling words of judgment is equivalent to stoning in the Old Testament.”

WOW what a concept! We’ve all heard the old saying about sticks and stones but I wonder, can words cause harm?

I think we all know the truth on that one. Words can cut. Worse than any stick or stone can bruise flesh, hurtful words can cut hearts and bruise souls. Even via the Internet love, gentleness, kindness and patience or anger and sarcasm can be shown in our choice of words and tone of emails and messages.

Now I’ll admit, as much as I always try to walk in love, I have the tendency to speak without thinking and end up hurting someone’s feelings. But once I’m convicted that what I’ve said is wrong, I always try to make amends.

As human beings we have the ability to speak good or bad into our lives.

As Christians we have the authority to call those things that be not as though they are.

As writers we have awesome power and responsibility to use our words for the common good of all mankind. Even in mystery and horror novels, good almost always wins out!

Writing has been known as a talent, a gift, a craft. Writers are called word-smithers and artists. Some are natural-born writers, some are self-made, some make their way up step-by-painful-step. No matter which type of writer you are, there is room for all of us at the top. There is no need to push and shove each other off the ladder of success. If necessary we can walk around and climb over each other, but we should always reach out and lend a hand-up to those who need it.

So let us think about what we say, either in person or in the written word and may we always remember; pleasing words are like honeycomb, sweetness to the taste and health to the body for both the speaker and the recipient of words. (Prov.16:24)


Pamela S. Thibodeaux is the co-founder the Bayou Writer’s Group in Lake Charles, Louisiana and a member of ACRW (American Christian Romance Writers). Multi-published in fiction and non-fiction, her writing has been tagged as “Inspirational with an Edge!” Author's Website: http://www.pamelathibodeaux.com
Author's Email: [email protected]

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