Words - by Warwick Langman

Over the past few weeks myself and some friends have started reading through the Psalms. Particularly Psalms 33 and 34 have significant emphasis on the importance of words. It talks about how God's voice was powerful enough to create the universe (33:6). It calls God's people to sing and praise (33:1-3,34:1). God answers, He hears (34:4-7). The people call out and are to listen to Him (34:6,11).

You see it's not just God's words that our powerful. Being made in His image, our words are powerful too. They have the power to destroy or to build up, to praise God our dishonour Him. It says that if you want to live for many days you should "keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies." (34:13)

These are only a few examples but constantly throughout the Psalms, and all of Scripture for that matter, God's words and our words are very important and powerful.

So as we come to sing and praise our God, the words we sing are powerful. But also consider how influential our words are over other people.

Ponder these questions for reflection on this devotion:

- Are you using your words to build others up? If so, how?

- Are you using your words to bring others down? If so, how?

- Are you praising/glorifying God with your lips and not just whilst singing at church?

- Are you listening to God's voice through His Word?