Romancing The Rock

Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. [James 3:5b NIV]

We all remember how quickly Victoria burned in 2009. And some of those fires were started by sparks from falling power lines, particularly the biggest at Kinglake. The Bible draws a comparison from this kind of  situation, to the damage that can be done by reckless words spoken in haste.

I once wrote an essay in school entitled “Sticks and stones can break my bones, but names can crush and kill me.” You see, I was the victim of some nasty teasing all through primary school and high school. I am well aware of the damage that can be done by words. I have since learned that most of the things I was made fun of about were actually the good things about me. Funny that!

The opposite is also true. Positive words can build people up and give them confidence to hold their head high. Encouraging words can give people hope. Speaking Scripture builds faith. Communicating in love brings unity. You can turn a negative and destructive situation around, just by keeping a positive tongue in your head.

When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. [James 3:3-4 NIV]

Keep speaking those positive truths–to those about you and even to yourselves. That situation will turn.