Life and Death is in the power of the tongue

In recent news, the shooting which took the lives of 20 children and 6 adults at Sandy Hook Elementary school brought me to my knees for the safety and protection of our younger generation. My deepest prayers go out to the families and children who are being taken by senseless gun violence. I thank God for the educators in that community which must be a lesson learned to all, to be grateful for those in leadership over our children. I also thank God for the encouraging words which our present leaders, Barak Obama and Joel Osteen gave in hopes of giving words of healing to those who mourn during this time.

During this time I have been personally reflecting on the stories told by my family regarding my oldest brother who was also taken by gun violence at the age of 17. He was simply at the "wrong place during the wrong time". He was strong, hardworking and responsible for his age. Later, however my family would realize that in a community where gun violence was common, parents (along with community leaders) had to work even harder to teach him social responsibility. My mother taught him the importance of getting his education but based on the recent tragedy in Connecticut gun violence is possible in the very place where a parent must be convinced his/her child is safe.

After my brother’s death, my mother's focus drastically changed for the rest of us. Forgiveness was the true remedy to healing for our family. Going to school became less of a priority while knowing Jesus Christ as our personal savior became our "weapon" against social warfare. She did not encourage us to hold guns on our hip to protect us. She simply prayed for our safety, enforced more strict rules and encouraged us to be careful of whom we befriended. The word of God was our sword. Years later by God's grace no more of our family members have died from gun violence. No weapon formed against us prospered. Now I know why we had to meditate on the word of God and understand a value about life that the school system wasn't going to teach us. It benefited, and through knowing, life became much easier under the instruction of God.

The importance of knowing the power of prayer for us became detrimental to living because God's view of death is different from how humans see death. The very word of God states that the concept of death and life is in the power of the tongue (Proverbs 18:21) I believe that we all agree that we all perish (die) from a "lack of knowledge" (Hosea 4:6) and if we knew what God knew about death will our mourning over death encourage us to use our words to speak life? In other words, speaking the "truth in love" in the lives of those around us whether they are in pain or succeeding. From here on out, can we choose to use our words (whether through prayer or self encouragement) to restore at all times with the intent to give life? Can you choose?

Finally I encourage those who read this post to reflect on the below passage:

1 Tim 2:1-6

I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— ² for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. ³ This is good, and pleases God our Savior, ⁴ who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. ⁵ For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, ⁶ who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time.