February 5

“Nevertheless, the Lord your God would not listen to Balaam, but the Lord your God turned the curse into a blessing to you, because the Lord your God loves you.” Deuteronomy 23:5

Words have weight.  Words can create life, giving a sense of purpose, belonging, value, safety, and love; or create, fear, intimidation, guilt and shame. Words can build you up or break you down.  When someone you care about says something unkind about you, it hurts. You listen, as painful as it might be, and wonder, is that is really who you are? And maybe others listen and wonder too.  

But not God, beloved!  This God Who loves you does not listen to anything unkind or untrue.  He would not listen at all.  In fact, He takes those words, no matter how hurtful they are, or were meant to be, and turns them into a blessing!  Why? Because you are His, because you matter, and because He loves you so!

What if you bundle up all that has been said, along with the pain and the sorrow that came with it—toss in anything that you may have spoken against others, or yourself, that did not reflect the best side or part of you, and hand them all to Jesus.  He can restore and redeem even the worst of those words, and turn them into a blessing.  He can bring truth that changes the lies; He can bring life that cancels death; He can bring revelation that breaks off the intimidation; and He can set you free. 

Dear heart, let the blessings flow.  Let all those words go, for in the truth of what He speaks, you are made whole!

Prayer:

Lord, today I choose to forgive others who may have spoken against me in an untrue or unkind way—knowingly or unknowingly. I choose to forgive myself for any lies I have believed, about myself or others, and I ask Your forgiveness Jesus, for anything I have said that was not a true reflection of You.

Thank You that because of Your great love for us all, we can be free of the curses that wrongly spoken words have caused, and we can go forward afresh, into all that we have created us to be.

Come Lord Jesus, and have Your way.  Speak Your words of life into my heart, each and every day!