The Power of Words

These words I speak to you are not mere additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundation words, words to build a life on. Luke 6:46-47 (The Message)
I get a lot of joy from the blogs I follow. They bring energy when I’m down and life to an otherwise lackluster day. These are frequently written by people I’ve worked with or met at conferences or who’ve been in my classes. Be warned, if you’ve been one of my students, I do keep up with you.
Many have commented that they wonder how I keep up with so many. I readily admit I don’t read every blog, every day. If I did, I’d never get anything done.
But I do pay attention to the post titles and try to pay attention to that gentle tap on my spiritual shoulder when I need to stop and read one. It’s ALWAYS a blessing. God has spoken to me so clearly through so many of you. I wish I had the time to tell each of you in person how you’ve impacted my life. I know I could never adequately explain, so my prayer is that, in Heaven, you’ll get to see the result of your faithfulness.
That said, I also see a lot of stuff through social media. There are short updates, and advertisements of blogs I don’t follow. Sometimes I find a hidden gem, but more often than not, these blogs have the opposite affect on my spirit, leaving me enervated and sad.
The contrast between these two types of writings have made me wonder about my own words. Am I exemplifying Jesus and bringing life with my words, or am I draining life from someone who is already hurting? 

I’m not talking about watering down the Truth of God’s Word. But I am talking about the motive behind my words. Do I quickly dash off something because I think someone needs to learn a lesson? Or maybe I  write something harsh because I or, even worse, someone I love, has been hurt?
In light of what I’ve seen, I’ll be choosing my words with more care, more love, and a heart of compassion.