Are words powerful?  Do the meanings of names actually affect someone's life?  Does it matter which words you voice and which you don't?

I've always believed that words -are- powerful.  I find myself telling my students this all the time.  If they say "I'm going to fail this test", I tell them not to say such things because their words have meaning.  I've actually heard several of my students start to tell other students the same thing, and not in a mocking manner.

I believe words ARE meaningful.  God tells us in so many passages to open up our mouths and speak, to give ideas a voice, or to rebuke sin and affirm goodness with our tongue.  I believe, for instance, that there is power in verbally denouncing a certain sin or bad feeling.

Before anyone moves along this line, however, let me be clear:  In NO way am I claiming that words are some magical cure to all that is bad.  I am simply saying that words have God-given power, and as such, we should always be careful with them.

Do you disagree?  Please let me know!  Do you agree?  Tell me why!
Do you have an example on how words affected a situation?  Please share. I'd love to hear some stories on the power of words.

Singelli : I agree 100%. I've always been known as a wordsmith, and before I became a Christian, I could seriously do some damage with some of the things that I would say to people. In fact, I can say that it is still true.

Something I have to remind myself is that "life and death is in the power of the tongue." I believe these words to be true, and I also believe that they can be very literal. Even if you don't take them literally, you could still instantly destroy a relationship or a friendship, one that took 100,000 words to build up, with three or four words. You could build up a person who's endured a million slanderous words, just by using a few simple words yourself. Words are definitely powerful, something that everyone should take absolute care in using. I'm not the best at it (vocally) yet, but it's getting better.

Singelli :  Yes.  My wife is also a teacher and she can personally testify of the "power of words", especially when it comes to the young ones.  With a single word or phrase, you can shatter or build a child's (or anyone for that matter) person.  In this sense, I agree 100%.  As far as that "Word faith" movement goes - stay away!