Sing them over again to me, wonderful words of life;

Let me more of their beauty see, wonderful words of life;

Words of life and beauty, teach me faith and duty:

Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonder words of life. 

Philip Bliss

An old gospel song. Heartwarming text.

Words can heal or hurt. They can make us laugh or despair. Some words strengthen and encourage; others bring question or disillusionment. What words do you use?

I enjoy word-plays that are clever and make me think. Try these on for size. (Thanks, Phil)

To write with a broken pencil is pointless.

The batteries were given out – free of charge.

A will is a dead give-away.

Well, so much for my little muse, the point being, we can use our words in many ways. They can bring joy or pain, enriching thoughts or bland repetitiveness, delight or devastation.

More important than our words are the words of Scripture and there’s plenty to be said in the word of God. These are the wonderful words, beautiful words that the hymn writer, Philip Bliss, had in mind. Words of Scripture form our guideline.

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. Psalm 119:105

When we memorize these words and live them out, they give us stability.

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Psalm 119:11

Jesus taught with many words on the mount—Understand your poverty in spirit: mourn your unworthiness, live in humility and meekness, hunger and thirst for doing the right thing, show mercy even as you have been given mercy, be peacemakers who are pure in heart. Wonderful words, beautiful words.

Be salty flavor to the world and light so others may find the way. Don’t murder, but don’t even hate, which leads to murder. Don’t commit adultery, but don’t even lust which leads to adultery. Love your neighbor, but love even your enemy. Hard words, but wonderful words.

Give to the needy; be prayerful, store up treasures in heaven, not earth. Don’t worry; don’t judge, ask, seek, and knock for my help, Jesus said. Matthew 5, 6, and 7

Jesus closed with:

Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house upon the rock. Matthew 7:24

Listen to your words this week. Are they helpful, encouraging, loving, peace making? Do they show that you have hidden His words in your heart? Are they providing a light for someone’s path? Are they beautiful words, wonderful words of life?

Help us, Lord, in our worldly weakness to hide your words in our hearts so that we will have the word tools we need when you provide opportunities.

~ Joyce ~