In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. John 1:1-2
“Writing and reading decrease our sense of isolation. They deepen and widen and expand our sense of life: they feed the soul. When writers make us shake our heads with the exactness of their prose and their truths, and even make us laugh about ourselves or life, our buoyancy is restored. We are given a shot at dancing with, or at least clapping along with, the absurdity of life, instead of being squashed by it over and over again. It’s like singing on a boat during a terrible storm at sea. You can’t stop the raging storm, but singing can change the hearts and spirits of the people who are together on that ship.” Anne Lamott
Words. We love them, we hate them. We live by them. The fact is they are powerful. The Bible says they are living and active. Maybe it’s one of the reasons Jesus said that even the words we think, are dangerous. Because words we think become words we say, and even unspoken words hold power over us. It’s why we are instructed to be careful what we ponder, and also to be careful what we allow ourselves to say. Ecclesiastes says, ” Let your words be few…” And we are told we will give an account for every word we speak. Yikes. As we ponder the power of words, let’s look at some of our favorite quotes, scripture and passages of writing.
Take a Favorite Bible Verse or Quote and write about the importance of it on your thinking, your philosophy of life, your outlook etc.
OR
Choose a specific theme or topic and use your journal to record quotes and/or scripture that are meaningful to you. If you’re feeling creative, use your colored pens, or decorate as seems good to you.
OR
Make a list of your top ten (twenty, thirty…etc.) favorite quotes. Or you could just pick a theme and seek quotes to do with that subject. I do this with Google fairly frequently!
OR
Open your Dictionary randomly and discover some new words (maybe). Write using 10-20 of the words you find on the first two pages you open to.
Word Lovers, write away!
This post is part of a series:
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Enthusiastically, Dawn 
5 responses to “The Power of Words (Prompt 19)”
Words are powerful, Dawn, and have the power to change lives–particularly those of encouragement. I just got back from the funeral of a beloved poet friend, whose powerful words of poetry affected me back in my twenties. I lost touch w/ his books, and was amazed to meet him three years ago in our church–especially amazed, not just b/c I was meeting a favorite poet, whose words I had admired so much, but because he is a Jew. But He came to the living Word, Jesus. I”m very sad at losing my friend, and yet rejoice that he is w/ the Lord. He penned over TWELVE THOUSAND poems, along with fiction, memoir, and scholarly writing. His legacy will live on in his words, and these are words of beauty and strength. I especially love that his last book (which will be released today) was written during his year-long illness. He had the tenacity and dedication to know the power and import\ance of the pen, and that his words will live on. I’m especially gratified in knowing that some of these last poems are about Christ. We can capture our own legacy in our journals. You are doing important work here, Dawn!
Love
LYnn
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Lynn,
I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your friend. Wow. 12000 poems! That makes me really happy and yes, to the power of the Word who gives words to we who write! What a blessing. Thank you so much for your encouragement! I love what you have shared here about this friend who is with Jesus. Wish I could have met him…maybe in Heaven, I will!
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Good prompt.
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Thank you very much for your gracious words, Dawn. My friend’s funeral was beauitufl and moving, but no mention of Christ. However, at the reception, everyone received a copy of his new book, The Words of My Mouth and The Meditations of My Heart (by Louis Daniel Brodsky). I have had the manuscript since Novemeber, but it is a joy to see it in book form, knowing that even with the sentence of brain cancer altering his life, he worked so hard to create a legacy of poetry. And what staggers me is his clear articulation of his faith in Jesus Christ in various poems in this book. There is no question what he believed. Those who read this, will know where he stood. I pray that anyone who does not know the Savior will be drawn to him through LD’s words. Oh the power of our words, when they are used for God’s glory and purposes. God bless you for all you are doing here, Dawn. It’s really a matter of life and death.
Love
Lynn
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