Over the years I practiced medicine I said a lot of words every day. I counseled many women,

A journal is a cheap psychiatrist. ~Dr. Vickie

Yeah, today I need a psychiatrist. I must have been here many times before, because stacks of journals are deposited in my nightstand drawer. I probably need a real doctor, but since I have my journal, I write. Not words from my head, those are cheap, but words from my soul, the expensive ones. I offer them to you, in case you need a cheap psychiatrist too.

The cathartic process of spilling ink on a page is pricey.

Words always have a price. Written and spoken words may cost you your reputation, your job, your relationships or your very life.

Psalm 19:14, “May the words of my mouth and meditation of my heart be acceptable to You, Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.” HCSB

COSTLY WORDS

The converse is also true; words have the power to save and heal and restore. Words of affirmation are my love language. * I speak encouragement because it is my heart language. While some give and receive love through acts of service, quality time, gifts or physical touch, I need words. Just tell me and I will tell you. But do not mistake me, words are not cheap.

Ephesians 4:29, “Watch the way you talk. Let nothing foul or dirty come out of your mouth. Say only what helps, each word is a gift.” MSG

DISCONNECTED

This morning I was discouraged. I was writing from my head, so I recorded this prayer in my journal, “Infuse my writing with the Holy Spirit and forgive me from writing from my brain and my mind.”  Dry souls don’t overflow, but God’s great love is copious, filling and running over. I knew I needed to tap into Him so I could write from the overflow.

Colossians 2:19, “They have lost connection with the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.” NIV

ENCOURAGING WORDS

Ironically, the view from my porch on this gloomy day held great meaning for me. Wanting to preserve the scene, I set down my coffee mug, climbed out from under my cozy blanket and went inside to get my camera (AKA i Phone). There was a notification. Words were waiting for me. Words of affirmation and encouragement. Life-giving, soul-restoring words. They may have been cheap to you, but they were alphabet CPR to me.

Proverbs 25:11, “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.” KJV

UNSPOKEN WORDS

Every day for two solid weeks I have heard about unspeakable tragedies. Lives suddenly ended, likely with words left unspoken. Words can give life, or they can destroy. Words are pleasant or poison, some without anecdotes. I want to live with no regrets because someday there will be no tomorrow and unspoken words aren’t cheap either. In fact, words not spoken can cost you your soul.

Romans 10:9, “because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” ESV

THE WORD

This is the rich stuff. Today my journal was not filled with day-to-day chronicles, but rather heart poured out onto page. Please handle with care, they are valuable to me. Ultimately, it is God’s word that brings healing. To stay connected to Him, I have to stay in His word. He is the Word made flesh who came to rescue us from all of the hurtful words we say or receive.

Psalm 107:20, “He sent out his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave.” NIV

Whoever said words are cheap is a liar. Words are not cheap; they are priceless. Pass them on.

*The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman

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