Words Can Change the Heart
The band Cold War Kids (CWK) just came out with a new EP in December titled “Behave Yourself.” My wife and I are pretty big fans of CWK. Besides their stellar music, Matt Maust, the bass player is an amazing artist who did most the pieces in our living room. You can check out some of his latest stuff on their website (www.coldwarkids.com). The last song on the new EP is titled “Sermons.” In the last stanza of the song there is a line Nathan Willett repeats over and over again. He says, “I believe that the words can change the heart, the words can change the heart, the words can change the heart…” In essence that one line sums up the entire passion of my life, why I do what I do, why I say what I say, why I am a preacher…because I believe that words can change the heart.
Words are phenomenal. In 2008 John Piper and friends put on a conference titled “The Power of Words and the Wonder of God” (you can listen to all the audio from it HERE). The essence of the message from that conference was that words can either give life or destroy life. One of the speakers of the conference was Paul Tripp who wrote a great book a couple years ago called, “How People Change”. In his book, one of the most critical points he makes is that whenever people change, whether for the good or for the bad, it happens when they begin to believe words heard from someone somewhere.
Can words really change the heart? When I think back on my life it has been words, words from several different people that have impacted me, effected me, changed my thoughts, stirred up affections in me. Whether it was the words of my parents, the words men have written in books, the words of friends, or the words written in the Bible or spoken in sermons…when it comes down to it only words that have ever actually accomplished anything in my life. What are the things that have changed you and caused significant shifts in your character or lifestyle?
Consider these words. Proverbs 18:21 says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” If that’s true and if what CWK is saying about words is true…then what we say to people really matters. So what are we saying? And who are we saying it to?
Words to God
Words of prayer change the heart. God knows everything we need before we ask him (Mt 6:8), so prayer isn’t so much about informing God but allowing our heart to interact with him because in telling him what we need…speaking words to God…something happens in us. Something happens where our heart gets brought into the presence and reality of all of who God is and encountering that changes us.
Words to Others
Words of the gospel change people…they forgive, heal, restore, and ultimately save. Romans 10:10,17 “With the heart one believes and is justified…belief comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” The words we as human beings most need to hear is the words of the gospel of Jesus Christ: that we are in fact sinners, we are broken people…but God has shown us great love in Jesus, his Son, who he had die for us and rise again. Jesus pays the penalty and provides new life for us. Whether it is through sermons, books, blogs or conversations, people need to hear that message and be helped to apply it because it is relevant to every single thing we face in life. Sometime we just need the words of someone to help us see how it is relevant. Every difficulty we face is a difficulty with sin in some way and every difficulty is opportunity for the new life of Jesus to be poured into it. The word of Christ we share is words of hope and they are words that change us.
Words to Ourselves
Words we speak to ourselves are the words we say when no one else is around. They are the words of what we really believe and what we really desire. Sometimes these can be the most powerful words because they are the words we ultimately end up acting on. In Psalm 42 we get a vivid picture of David doing this exact thing, speaking words to himself: “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise him, my salvation (Ps. 42:5).” Sometimes when our souls are sluggish we have to tell ourselves how to behave and how to react and command them to live for and follow hard after God. When we speak words to ourselves, something gets stirred deep within us and motivation begins to rise because the words change us.
Conclusion
Can words change the heart? I believe that with all my heart. Words are immensely important. May God give us words…words to pour out from our souls before him, words to encourage others and help them see their need for Jesus and his greatness, and words to speak to ourselves when deadness in us needs to be beckoned to life. Words? Oh yes, words most definitely can change the heart. May we speak them and may they continue to change me and change you.
- Pastor Duane
