Dec
21
Words that Bring Healing
Filed by Becky Albrecht Under Uncategorized | Leave a Comment
God speaks to us about Truth and Love when He says, “…that we…, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—” (Ephesians 4:14-15)
In the Psalms, we are reminded of the importance of truth in our hearts. The Psalmist writes, “LORD, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill? He who walks uprightly, and works righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart; he who does not backbite with his tongue, nor does evil to his neighbor, nor does he take up a reproach against his friend… He who does these things shall never be moved.” (Psalm 15:1-3, 5)
Our tongue can be used to bring healing, or to “backbite.”
In the book of Isaiah, God reminds us of the results of putting away “…the pointing of the finger.” He tells us, “If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness… The LORD will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and strengthen your bones; you shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.” (Isaiah 58:9b, 11)
Author Elisabeth Elliot reminds us of the importance of speaking the truth to others. She writes, “It seems to me that life is all too short to let embarrassment deprive us and our friends of the pleasure of telling the happy truth. Suppose the boy who does your lawn does it fast, trims it perfectly, and takes care of the tools? Suppose the clerk who waits on you happens to be the most gracious one you’ve ever encountered? Suppose even that your husband–when you stop for once to look at him, to think about him as a person and as a man–seems to you to be the best man you know? Tell them. Tell them now.” (Elisabeth Eliot, All That Was Ever Ours)
In her book, Streams in the Desert, Mrs. Charles Coleman tells this story:
“There is a story of an old man who carried a little can of oil with him everywhere he went, and if he passed through a door that squeaked, he poured a little oil on the hinges. If a gate was hard to open, he oiled the latch. And thus he passed through life lubricating all hard places and making it easier for those who came after him.
“People called him eccentric, queer, and cranky; but the old man went steadily on refilling his can of oil when it became empty, and oiled the hard places he found.
“There are many lives that creak and grate harshly as they live day by day. Nothing goes right with them. They need lubricating with the oil of gladness, gentleness, or thoughtfulness. Have you your own can of oil with you? Be ready with your oil of helpfulness in the early morning to the one nearest you. It may lubricate the whole day for him. The oil, of good cheer to the downhearted one–Oh, how much it may mean! The word of courage to the despairing. Speak it.
“Our lives touch others but once, perhaps, on the road of life; and then, mayhap, our ways diverge, never to meet again. The oil of kindness has worn the sharp, hard edges off of many a sin-hardened life and left it soft and pliable and ready for the redeeming grace of the Saviour.
“A word spoken pleasantly is a large spot of sunshine on a sad heart.”
(Mrs. Charles Coleman, Streams in the Desert, 1925, Dec. 8 )
Hymn-writer Ina Ogdon reminds us, “Just above are clouded skies that you may help to clear, Let not narrow self your way debar; Though into one heart alone may fall your song of cheer, Brighten the corner where you are.” (1913)
I am praying that during this season of celebrating and visiting with family and friends, that our hearts would be touched by God’s grace so that the words that we speak will be words of healing and encouragement.
May we be lights which shine before men, that our Father in heaven might be glorified. (Matthew 5:16)
