Words are curious things. By themselves, they aren’t much–a few vowels, and a consonant or two. Words are meaningless except for the meaning attached to them. Yet, words are ever-changing. A quick look at the number of revisions of Webster’s Dictionary will show that words take on new meanings over time. The power of a word is in who (or what) you allow to define it.
Think about the following words: Cool. Hot. Gay. Green. Net.
Each of these can conjure vastly different responses and convey different meanings, because of the way their definitions have changed over time.
Who is defining your life, your decisions? I have found that for every decision I make in life, there is no shortage of people offering a definition to understand it by. “Your decision was wise. It was unwise. It was careful. Foolish. Godly. Hasty. Immature. Professional.” The list goes on and on. Some will offer their definition openly and plainly, and some will do it with manipulation and passive-aggression.
The question is, whose definition do you accept? There have been too many times in my own life that I made the right decision, only to begin doubting myself later when someone offered a different definition. James 1:8 tells us that “a double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” How do we avoid this? By choosing our dictionary carefully.
Here’s the thing to remember–Webster’s Dictionary may change, but God does not! Malachi 3:6 says, “…I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.” If you want peace in your life, seek definition from the Unchanging One!