The Power You’re Hoarding

Wednesday, November 1st, 2023     by Lori Roeleveld     Start the Conversation
Do what you can, not what you can’t.
It’s common during times of war, global upheaval, and domestic conflict to become so overwhelmed we feel powerless. It’s also well-known that truth is the first casualty of war. We’re seeing that firsthand these days.
As people who know THE truth, the way, and the life, we have a responsibility now more than ever to not hoard the truth, especially when it is in such short supply.
Beyond the bombs falling in the Mid-East and the division growing in our own streets, there is a war that is greater still and that is the war for souls. As the fiery arrows of deception land all around us, we must raise up the shield of faith and speak clearly the Words of Truth.
This is what we can do and so we must do it. Silence–whether it is the silence of fear, shame, cowardice, or confusion–aids and abets the enemy if the enemy’s chief weapons are lies.
Yesterday, I spoke with a group of moms about seven ways to prepare our children and young people for hard conversations. God reminded me of the power we have–the power we too often hoard. That is the power of words.
We follow the Living Word. We are people of the Word, those who know the location of truth for life is in the Bible. These are days when we often feel powerless but the truth is, we are not.
One activity I recommend for families is one I’m going to do myself again through November and I invite you to join me over on Facebook or on your own.
Each day of November, I’m going to take a Bible verse about how we are to speak and apply it throughout the day. Each day, I’ll add another verse and try to continue applying the earlier verse even as I practice the new one.
What we contribute to the world through our words (written, spoken, posted online) has significant impact. Like the tiny voices of the Whos in Horton Hears a Who by Dr. Seuss, we may feel our individual voices have no effect on the world but when we join them and speak as one, we will see they have immeasurable effect.
Today’s verse is Philippians 2:14 NASB: “Do all things without complaining or arguments” Imagine a world where Jesus-followers did not complain or argue! Imagine just one day of NOT complaining or arguing. If you join me and apply this verse, comment below about how it goes!
Tomorrow’s verse is James 1:19 NASB: “You know this, my beloved brothers and sisters. Now everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger;”
Of course, we can’t accomplish this without the power of Jesus.
Paul (who wrote the letter to the Philippians) pointed to the humility of Jesus, “He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death: death on a cross. For this reason also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:8-11
If you follow me on Facebook, you’ll see each daily verse I post. If not, that’s fine. This is a do-it-yourself kind of exercise. Take 30 index cards or scraps of paper on write one Bible verse about how to speak, the tongue, etc. on each slip of paper. Then, apply one each day to your conversation.
Don’t believe the lies flying through the airwaves. Our lives do have impact whether we choose to acknowledge that or not. We make a difference. Make a difference for Christ with your words. You can change the culture of your home, school, church, community, or even the world simply by how you speak.
Ready, set, go!
Reach out to me. I respond to every comment and reply to every email! (Sometimes I’m slow, but I do make it!)


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