The Daily: Tuesday August 5, 2025

Read Mark 11:20-25 (NRSV, The Message)

Jesus was matter-of-fact: “Embrace this God-life. Really embrace it, and nothing will be too much for you. This mountain, for instance: Just say, ‘Go jump in the lake’—no shuffling or shilly-shallying—and it’s as good as done.
Mark 11:22-23 (The Message)


Have you ever considered how powerful your words truly are? In the beginning, God spoke the world into existence. As beings created in God's image, our words also carry creative power. When we speak, we don't just describe reality—we help shape it. Our words can build up or tear down, inspire or discourage, heal or wound. Each day, we make hundreds of choices about what we'll say and how we'll say it. These choices matter more than we might realize. Just as God's words brought order from chaos and light from darkness, our words can transform situations around us. They can change the atmosphere in a room, shift someone's perspective, or even alter the course of a relationship. Today, consider your words as seeds you're planting. What kind of harvest do you want to see in your life and relationships? By becoming more intentional about our speech, we participate in the divine act of creation in our everyday lives.

Reflection Question
What creative power have your words had in your life recently? Can you identify one situation where your words either built something positive or unfortunately caused harm?

Prayer
Creator God, thank you for the gift of speech. Help me remember the power of my words today. Guide me to speak words that create rather than destroy, that heal rather than wound. May I use this gift wisely and intentionally. Amen.