You Get What You Give
Scripture (NKJV)
“A soft answer turns away wrath,
But a harsh word stirs up anger.”
— Proverbs 15:1 (NKJV)
Lately, God has been teaching me something that has completely shifted my perspective.
For a while, I was carrying a lot of anger and frustration. Because of some very personal situations, I found myself giving those emotions to the very people I was upset with. My words reflected my hurt, and my attitude reflected the weight I was carrying.
Then God reminded me of something He has been speaking to me about over and over again—resurrection.
Resurrection isn’t only about Jesus rising from the dead. It’s about bringing life into places that feel dead. It’s about choosing to speak life instead of death, hope instead of despair, encouragement instead of criticism.
So I made a conscious decision.
Instead of responding with anger, I chose kindness.
Instead of reinforcing the problem, I started reinforcing the person.
Instead of speaking out of hurt, I began speaking words that would build others up.
What surprised me most wasn’t how it affected them—it was how it affected me.
The more life I spoke, the lighter my own heart became.
The anger slowly disappeared.
The frustration lost its grip.
Peace replaced bitterness.
It reminded me of a fireplace.
If all you feed a fire is wet wood, it fills the room with smoke. The smoke doesn’t just affect everyone else—it surrounds the person tending the fire first.
But when you place dry wood on the fire, it produces warmth instead of smoke. That warmth fills the room, and the first person to experience it is the one standing closest to the fire.
Our words work the same way.
When we continually feed our relationships with anger, resentment, and criticism, we’re creating an atmosphere that eventually surrounds us too.
But when we choose encouragement, grace, patience, and love, we’re not only warming the hearts of those around us—we’re allowing God to warm and heal our own hearts in the process.
God has designed our hearts in an incredible way. What we continually pour out often becomes what we experience ourselves. When we sow peace, we begin to live in peace. When we sow encouragement, our own spirit becomes encouraged. When we sow grace, we’re reminded of the incredible grace God has shown us.
That doesn’t mean everyone will respond the way we hope.
Our obedience isn’t based on someone else’s reaction.
It’s based on God’s instruction.
So today, ask yourself:
What am I giving to the people around me?
Because more often than not, the atmosphere you create around others becomes the atmosphere you live in yourself.
Choose to breathe life.
Choose to build up.
Choose to encourage.
You may discover that while God is using your words to transform someone else’s heart, He’s transforming yours at the very same time.
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
And those who love it will eat its fruit.”
— Proverbs 18:21 (NKJV)
Prayer
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for reminding me that my words have the power to bring either life or death. Forgive me for the times I’ve spoken from hurt instead of from Your heart. Fill me with Your peace so that peace naturally flows from my mouth. Help me choose encouragement over criticism, grace over judgment, and love over anger. Teach me to breathe life into the people You’ve placed around me, even when it’s difficult. As I speak words that build others up, continue Your work of resurrection within me. Transform my heart, renew my mind, and let my life reflect the love and mercy You’ve so freely given me.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
May God bless you all abundantly today.
Rev. Carlos Figueroa
TheFreeBible.org
