Positive Reinforcements

Positive Reinforcements.  Have you noticed all the negative reinforcements there are in the world? Negativity is easily passed along from one person to the next. Sadly, it is even prevalent among many Christians and found in families. But we all need someone who believes in us. You know how many people have gone on to accomplish spectacular things just because someone believed in them? A simple sentence such as “I think you would be good at that!” can literally change the direction of someone’s life. It can cause them to continue in their endeavor. The opposite is also true. A lack of positive words can harm and/or discourage someone. 

This month, I’ve been spending a great amount of time reading in Proverbs and noticing what it says about the mouth and the words we speak. Pertaining to encouraging and speaking positively, here are a few that stuck out: 

• Proverbs 18:21 “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” 
• Proverbs 18:24 “Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.” 
• Proverbs 25:11 “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.” 
• Proverbs 27:9 “Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel.” 

May each of us learn to speak positive, gracious words of life to one another in order to edify and build up. It makes a world of difference to the hearer, and who knows? God may even use you and me and our  influence to change someone’s life. 

love, 
Ashley

Ephesians 4:29 “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” 

Jude: 22 "And of some have compassion, making a difference:"