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Morning Devotion: July 27
Proverbs 18:21 “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.”
Four years before my father died (at the ripe age of 78), he was hit by a van, which resulted in several surgeries and chronic pain. Initially, he would often speak of his discomfort. Due to my gratitude in his still being alive, I never tired of hearing the frequent complaints, when he made a movement that aggravated one of his injuries. However, as he began to heal, I noticed his conversation did not change much. One day, I asked, “Dad, do you feel better today than last year?” “Of course!” was his response. I then said, “When you speak about your pain, you are giving it life. It’s not to say that you are not in pain, but rather than lean into the discomfort, what if you lean into your healing?” This simple statement changed our conversations. From that time up until his death when I asked, “Dad, how are you feeling?” His stealthy reply would be, “I am feeling better every day.”
Prayer: God in Heaven, thank You for the power of words. Just as You use Your Word to guide us on this Earth, I pray that I will use my words to speak healing and joy, not only in my life, but also in the lives of others. May my words focus more on the positive, and less on the negative with each passing day. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
