Breaking the Power of Negative Words (Book Review)

By, Benjamin H. Liles

          No matter how we all cut it our words have impact on others ad their lives. Some words wound. Other words heal. Some words give life, while other words bring nothing but death. Mary C. Busha, author of Breaking the Power of Negative Words puts it best in this phrase (although I'm rephrasing it): People who are hurt themselves more than likely will hurt other people with their words. Do they mean to do it? Maybe and maybe not. It's not up to us to offer our own justice, however.

          But Mary Busha does point out and it is said also within the pages of Biblical scripture, "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks" (Luke 6:45, New King James). It comes across to me that even though the disciples dispersed themselves among the people of various nations, Luke talked with Levi - one of Christ's disciples, penning the book - The Gospel according to Matthew. I say this because it seems the concept of the mouth speaking of the abundance of the heart rolls up not just Matthew 12:34, but also Proverbs 4:23, Proverbs 10:11, Psalm 14:1, Proverbs 21:2, Proverbs 24:12, Ezekiel 11:21, and Ezekiel 16:30.

          I find that the way she has written this book is to illuminate for the Christ-follower, intent on becoming more like Jesus the Messiah, we ought to watch the words we say to each other. In fact, Paul is quoted as saying, "Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ" (Ephesians 4:15). It comes across that to be beneficial to the community of Christ-followers as well as to those in this world we need to speak the never-ending truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ but in a way that it honors both God as well as others who witness it.

          Overall, I love and enjoy Busha's take on scripture, how she delivers it all within the confines of 222 pages. She gives a ray of hope and encouragement that "we can do all things through Christ who strengthens" us (Philippians 4:13). I truly enjoyed this book and would read it again in a heartbeat. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell to give a fair and objective review.