By BenesckeJanse van Rensburg

In 2013, the pass rate for the matric exams of the Secondary School Walmer, which is just outside the center of Cape Town, was only 50%. The teachers realized that if they did not do something immediately, the school was in serious trouble. One of the teachers, Nandipha Mwezo, came forward with a strange proposal. Every now and then, she placed one of her matric learners on a chair in front of the classroom. For the next half an hour, the rest of the class then had to compliment and build up the learner with their words. Nandipha said she realized that many of the students in the class did not get this kind of support at home. She wanted to create a space for it.

To everyone’s surprise, the Secondary School Walmer’s pass rate for matriculants went from 50% in 2013 to 88% in 2014. Last year, the pass rate was 91.5%. This performance caused the Western Cape Education Department to honor the school with an award for the greatest improvement in its pass rate since 2013.

Do you realize that we too create or destroy with our words? In Proverbs 18:21 we read: “Life and death are in the power of the tongue.” In Psalm 141:3 the Psalmist writes: “Set a guard over my mouth, LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips.” And in Ezekiel 37, God showed the prophet a valley of dry bones that illustrated the spiritual condition of Israel. God then gave Ezekiel this command: “Prophesy over these bones and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. . . Behold, I will cause breath to enter you that you may come to life” (Ezekiel 37: 4-5). Ezekiel was obedient and stood stunned as the dry bones came together, followed by skin over it before God blew his Holy Spirit within it so it became alive again.

At times in our lives, we too experience a valley of dry bones in the form of a loved one struggling with an addiction, mounting debt, a marriage without unity, a challenging work environment or unemployment, a negative medical report or a child without self-confidence. We look at the dry bones and a feeling of hopelessness threatens to overwhelm us. Amidst this, God commands us to, like Ezekiel, continue to speak words of faith and courage over our challenge – standing on His promises. We create or destroy, edify or demolish, with our words.

Let us choose today to look beyond the valley of dry bones and start prophesying with words filled with God’s promises. Not only will it strengthen our faith in God; we might just as Ezekiel (and the staff of Secondary School Walmer) stand in absolute amazement, when the dry bones come together and God blows his Spirit in it so it becomes alive again. God bless.

Father God, thank you for the strength that lies in our words – to edify and build up. I ask in the Name of Jesus Christ to put a guard before my mouth so I will be aware of my word choices and deliberately choose positive words while staying away from negative words. Please strengthen me when hopelessness regarding dry areas in my life, threatens to overwhelm me. I ask this in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

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