Many Sci-Fi and Fantasy stories have been written where words have power. (A Man of His Word series by Dave Duncan or The Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin, among many others.) Magicians today would also have you believe at least some of their power comes from words like abracadabra and presto-changeo or something.

Words actually do have power of course, but not the way these stories or magicians propose.

Words I speak have the ability to make someone’s day much better, or much worse. They can start a new friendship or damage an existing relationship forever. Words from a powerful world leader can start a war, or end one. Words do have power, and I should use them carefully.

However, the power of words from my human mouth are quite limited. Someone must hear them, in the right circumstance. There is no power in my simply uttering them into the void.

Words from God’s mouth have ultimate power. He created everything that exists simply by uttering a few world into the void. There was no one to hear Him say, “Let there be light.” And yet light indeed appeared. The Big Bang perhaps. Boom. Light. Worlds. Galaxies. Universes.

Just with a Word.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John‬ ‭1‬:‭1,‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

Jesus is the Word that created everything. He later wrapped Himself up in human form to come teach us more clearly about God’s power. His love. His Word.

Jesus calmed the storm with a word. He healed countless diseases with words. He killed a tree with a word. He raised Lazarus from the dead with a word.

God’s power is complete. It is beyond my comprehension. I can rely on His Word because His Word has power. Real power. When He speaks, His will will be done. Without fail.

Dear God, thank you for your creation and for the reminder of the completeness of your power. There is nothing else as powerful, and no one to fear when I am in the shadow of your wings. With a word, you can create or destroy. Nothing can stand against you. Remind me to use my own words and power carefully, to love and not destroy.