A threefold cord

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 tells us,

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him – a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Have you ever stopped to consider the power of a word, a smell, a sound, or a touch? Simple things really, but they carry a lot of weight and possess great ability.

For example:

Touch –  The one of a parent that has the power to soothe and calm fears of their child.

Sound – Beats that have the ability to cause a foot to tap, and a body to sway.

Smells – Those that when breathed in can make a person salivate to a point where you can almost taste what’s in the air.

Words – The kind that when spoken surface a memory and evoke emotion.

Recently, I heard someone describe the power of a spoken word and hearing it immediately drew me to a different place in time to a point when I too was changed by that same spoken word. The sound of it was powerful, and felt as if it had picked me up, and placed me in the exact spot in which I had stood, hearing the voice in which it was said, and the authority that it was declared -and it all happened YEARS ago.

At that time, I remember feeling stuck, loaded down by sadness, un-forgiveness, failure, and overwhelmed – and I had been that way for what felt like a long time. That was…until a dear sister came to me in the midst of prayer and gently placed her hands on my tear stained face and began to proclaim words in my ear using a sweet, yet authoritative tone, declaring that my time of sadness was over, and now was a time of joy. As she spoke those words to me, I felt the reality of Proverbs 12:25;

Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.

Proverbs 18:21 says,

Death and life are in the power of the tongue…

This woman spoke life back into my soul, out of her obedience to the Lord and her willingness to declare the word He had given her to speak to me. As she did, the sadness, un-forgiveness, failure, and feelings of overwhelmed melted away, and joy stepped in to replace them.  

In that moment, this dear woman, the Lord, and I stood as a threefold cord joined together She easily could have left me standing there to battle this one on my own, but she didn’t. Her wisdom, and obedience to God drew her in, and even though she was only distantly familiar with my struggle she was close enough to see what I could not – and what she saw was exactly what was needed to pull me from the pit that I had found myself in, and all it took was a simple word to be said.

A threefold cord is not easily broken. My friends, as you read this, my hope is that this will serve as a reminder that we so desperately need each other as a shoulder to lean on, an ear to speak to, a hand to hold on to. We need each other as a voice that will speak – challenge, encourage, empower, to deliver words that will breath life and draw us to the One that delivers, changes, and saves using a voice that will strengthen in those moments of weakness reminding, drawing, pointing, and helping us in our decision to Choose Him.   

Think it over;

1)      What if God desires for your tongue to speak life? What if that word of encouragement you debate whether to say or not possesses the power to break the chains that are binding that person on your mind. What if God desires to use your words to breath deliverance, and break the bondage of someone in your family, your friend, or your co-worker.

2)      What if you too have the ability to see something that they themselves cannot see on their own.

3)      What if today God desires to use you and your words to draw someone closer Him?

Pray it over;

Thank God for the powerful work of His word in your life. Thank Him for the people He has used to speak life into your life. Thank Him for the people He has surrounded you with, and ask Him how He desires you to speak life into them. Ask Him to open your eyes to the ways He wants to use you and begin to praise Him for the unseen work that He is doing, and pray it all in the powerful name of Jesus Christ.