The report brought by 10 out of the 12 spies sent to spy on Canaan set the tone for our text. The spies had reported to the general assembly that the land which God promised them was a death trap, as it were. They complained of the giants who inhabited the land, and that the place ate up the people. There was an inherent contradiction in that report. If indeed the land ate up the people, how did they manage to become giants? Instead of subjecting the report to critical thinking, they lifted up their voice and wept all night! This immediately underscores the power of words. Words are so powerful that they hardly leave us the same way. It has been said that even though words do not break bones, they are strong enough to break hearts. For all considerations, the hearts of the children of Israel were broken when they received the negative feedback.

Words can swing your emotion. Some people are wrecked emotionally because of the type of words they are exposed to. A child that constantly hears derogatory words may struggle with low self-esteem sooner than later. Words can also eat at the root of your courage. If all you hear is about failure and lack, you stand the risk of never giving a go at anything in life. Of course, the health of your heart is directly related to the things that pass in-between your ears on a daily basis. One of your best safety valves is to be selective in what you hear. If you have been extremely unhappy of late, check what you are listening to. Mind you, you may have been saying the wrong things to yourself too. Be as selective in what you say as in what you hear. That way, you are protecting yourself and being a blessing to your hearers.