Heart Words: Considering How Words Impact Our Lives

By Connie Bertelsen Young

With over six thousand five hundred languages in the world, the following scripture pertains to every human being and their dialect. “For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matthew 12:37 NKJV). That’s a valid reason to learn the importance of our words in a society where many are deafeningly oblivious to the consequences of cursing and the importance of blessing.

Although we aren’t always aware of it, our lives have been affected by every word we’ve spoken, heard, or which entered our brains since the day we were born. Even while we were still in the womb, words had their impact on us. In fact, before the human race existed, words brought our fate. God simply uttered words and creation began.

God made man and gave us the amazing gift of expressing ourselves. Unlike animals who cannot articulate and verbalize mind and heart, we were given speech and the command of our words. But sadly, our twenty-first-century world is blaring with the irresponsible use of words. There is widespread cursing, slander, lying, blaspheming, and evil speaking.

Heart Words will show the need to use words prudently because of their profound influence. Readers will see how fulfillment, joy, prosperity, health, discontentment, depression, poverty, and sickness pertain to our words.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Jun 29, 2019
• ISBN: 9781973666554

Connie Bertelsen Young

Connie’s Bible studies and short stories are also published in other books, magazines, and newspapers, and she was a newspaper columnist for seven years. We Are The Branches is her 7th book. Connie has worked as a church secretary, pianist and Bible study teacher. She was interviewed on several television channels when teaching a class for overcoming phobias. She and her husband have four children and ten grandchildren. Although Connie is semi-retired and works part time as a secretary for her husband’s construction business, she said that as long as she lives, she hopes to continue to write and work full time in obedience to Jesus Christ.

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ISBN: 978-1-9736-6654-7 (sc)

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WestBow Press rev. date: 6/27/2019

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A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart (Luke 6:45 NLT).

DEDICATION

To my grandchildren: Nikka, Cyaura, Nathan, TJ,

Amiya, Daniel, Nicholas, Alessaundra and Kylie

I hope that somehow what I’ve learned the hard way will benefit you. Although I’m not done learning because of the tiny bit of wisdom within this book, my desire is that you will choose to apply the Biblical principles in these pages while you are young, before regrets accumulate – as they surely will if you do not apply them.

Admittedly, I’ve been a slow learner, but if, when I was a child, I had applied the truths in this book, everything about my life could have been improved. Although I’ve certainly experienced God’s mercy and blessing, if I had been more careful with my words and listened better to Him, I believe I would have shed less tears, have better relationships, have better health, and have even more joy and fulfillment.

I’ve loved and regularly prayed for each of you since your birth. And now, with all my heart, I humbly dedicate this book to each of you. May the Spirit of God give you understanding and may the foundation of your life be upon Jesus Christ.

All my love,

Bestemor (Grandmother)

Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock. But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great (Luke 6:47 NKJV).

CONTENTS

Acknowledgements

Introduction

1.     It Begins in our Minds

2.     We Will Be Tempted

3.     We Talk Too Much

4.     Conversation

5.     Listening

6.     The Words We Write

7.     Words of Education

8.     What We Read

9.     Words for Health

10.   Negative or Positive

11.   Guarding our Hearts

12.   Silence is Golden

13.   The Domino Effect

14.   Worship and Thanksgiving

15.   Music and Singing

16.   Speaking to God

17.   God Speaks

18.   Sharing Words of Life

19.   Words of Death

20.   Healing Words

21.   Words in Relationships

22.   Confession

23.   Faith Words

24.   The Ultimate Word

25.   Conclusion: Heart Word Watch

Heart Words Review

Endnotes

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I owe a great deal to the people who have given me words of encouragement over the years so that I would not give up writing despite my own self-doubts. But first, I must thank the Lord, because He seems to purposely look for the feeble, unimpressive person to express Himself – and I believe He has done that very thing herein. Whatever good is retrieved from this book, I know the teaching is not my own.

But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him (1 Corinthians 1:27-29 NIV).

In order to accomplish His purpose, I was gently nudged along by those of you who believe in me and my calling to write Heart Words. You know who you are. You’re the people of God who prayed for me, my friends and family who showed an interest in my work, and those who asked How’s it going? and supported my efforts by your reassurance. I give you my heartfelt thanks. God bless you!

INTRODUCTION

In the following chapters of this book, you will be reminded of the ways that words profoundly impact our lives and why there is need for caution. Although we weren’t always aware of it, our lives have been affected by every word we’ve spoken, heard, or which entered our brains since the day we were born. Even while we were still in the womb, words had their impact on us. In fact, before the human race existed, words brought our fate. In the first chapter of the Bible we read, Then God said … and creation was established by His words.

God made man and gave us an amazing gift to express ourselves. Unlike animals that cannot articulate and verbalize mind and heart, we were given speech and the command of words. But sadly, our 21st Century world is blaring with the irresponsible use of words. There is widespread cursing, slander, lying, blaspheming and evil speaking.

To mention a very few things that words can do: through words we can love, sing, befriend, create, exhilarate, teach, forgive, encourage, romanticize, inspire, counsel, intercede, amuse, cheer and pray. On the other hand, we may also use words to hate, accuse, complain, gossip, destroy, injure, reject, nag, prejudge, discourage, fuss, retaliate, punish, frighten, hurt and spoil.

We have tremendous options as to what we communicate. Ultimately, there are inescapable outcomes of our choices. And although we may try to control what we say individually, we can’t control what is recklessly said by those around us.

To a large extent because of technology and the population explosion, our ears and eyes are exposed to more forms of expressions than the generations before us were ever dealt. Our words have deeply influenced our semantics, lexicology, etymology, grammar, vernacular and every communication in speaking, thinking and writing. With over 6,500 languages in the world, the following Scripture pertains to every human being and their dialect.

For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned (Matthew 12:37 NKJV).

So how does anyone maintain a right tongue, keep a pure heart and choose words of integrity that will keep one from condemnation and make life fulfilling and holy? I hope with me you will see that the best answer is to obey God and to study and apply the wisdom of the Bible which will give us strength and teach us discretion.

When I was younger, I thought it sounded sanctimonious to state that I would pursue holiness, but as I’ve learned what that means, it has become the desire of my heart. Jesus prayed for us all to attain that end. Applying the scriptural lessons which I share within this book has helped me in this endeavor.

Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth (John 17:17-19 NLT).

Years ago, the late Norman Vincent Peale impressed me with his marvelous book The Power of Positive Thinking, helping me to understand, among other things, the great significance of words, particularly my own. And recently, after studying admonitions in the Bible that relate to that subject, I began this manuscript. I actually began with the accumulation of personal notes to myself and the journaling of information I found regarding the potential impact of words. It was a means to remind myself how stupendously my life can be directed by the words on my tongue or those words entertained in my mind or heart.

The consequences of the words we think, speak, write, read, and hear aren’t always acknowledged, but words can literally bring life or death, depending upon the circumstances and how they are used. I’ve written this book because of the immense power of words and their weighty influence upon our lives. I believe we can all learn to use our words prudently.

I recognize that I have taken on a deep subject for which I can only scratch the surface. However, I hope – by the Grace of God – I can make some sort of impression on a society where many are totally oblivious to the consequences of cursing and the importance of blessing.

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit (Proverbs 18:21 NKJV).

Connie Bertelsen Young

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It Begins in our Minds

Test me, LORD, and try me, examine my heart and my mind (Psalm 26:2 NIV).

We need to understand why and how our lives are profoundly impacted by our words. It all begins when words first find a place within our minds, before they are spoken or move to our hearts.

The person