According to the Scriptures in I Samuel 1:1-10, the Philistines gathered together their armies in battle against Saul and the Israelites. There went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines named Goliath a man of great stature and experience in battle. Goliath came out and challenged the men of Israel. When King Saul and the men of Israel heard Goliath challenges they became dismayed and greatly afraid and fled, 1 Samuel 17:8-11. However, when David an inexperienced but courageous youth who was sent by his father to his brothers who were among the Israelites army heard the same challenging words of Goliath, his faith in the Living God of Israel became greatly aroused and he accepted the challenge to fight one on one with Goliath. David remained strong in faith in his God; fearless, unperturbed, undaunte and courageous despite his brother's taunting words and further threats by Goliath. He faced Goliath, one on one in battle and killed Goliath with just a stone from his sling! 1 Samuel 17: 40-52.

Nonetheless, a day came when David the courageous, fearless and man of great faith in God found himself in a perplexing situation. David in his attempt to hide from King Saul who was after his life went to Achish the King of Gath for refuge. On getting there he heard what the servants told Achish about him and he became hopelessly afraid to the extent of feigning himself mad, scribbled on the doors of the gate and let spittle fall down upon his beard, 1Samuel 21:11-13. What could have made this great man of faith, and a mighty man of valor who was not afraid to face Goliath be afraid to the extent he portrayed?

The answer is simply this; the way he handled what he heard in his heart at the two instances. At the first occasion (the battlefront), he did not take to heart all he heard. This implies he took Goliath's threats, his brother's and King Saul's discouraging words lightly. He did not give room in his heart to them and as such, they had no effects on him. However, at the second instance, it was recorded that "he laid up in his heart the words he heard the servants of Achish the King of Gath" said about him. 1 Samuel 21: 12. This implied that he allowed what he heard to sink into his heart and this had adverse effects on him. He "became sore afraid."
The truth revealed during these episodes in David's life is that the way one handles what one hears matters a lot. The words we take to heart influences the heart/mind.

NATURE OF OUR SPOKEN WORDS
Spoken words are spirit and powerful. Spoken words have the power to build, destroy and influence the heart and attitude of the hearer. Spoken words fall under two categories godly/positive and devilish/negative words.
Godly/positive words are positive, good, sure, right, true, pure, lovely, kind, full of praise, light, wise, and holy words.

Negative words are bad, toxic, evil, terrible, untrue, and wicked words such as; curses, lies, abuses, condemnation, threats, blackmail, deceit, flattery, destructive criticism, mockery, jesting, and malicious.

HOW THE WORDS WE HEAR INFLUENCE THE HEART/ MIND
Man is a triplicate having a body, soul and spirit. He is a complete spirit being having all that is needed to relate to God and the spirit realm. The body (flesh) is the dwelling place of the spirit. The body has some sensory organs with which he contacts with the physical world he resides. The soul which is spiritual comprises of the heart/mind described as the center and director of human activity. It is the center of intellect/ mentality, intuition, thoughts and imaginations. It is the place of emotions and feeling and also of affection. It is also the place of human will, decision making, desires, and wishes. It is also the place our characters and morals are formed. The heart/mind is conditioned by the inputs from the physical and spiritual realms which could be negative/evil or positive/ godly. The two ears and eyes are the information inlets from the physical world to the heart.
Whenever the ears hear any positive or negative spoken words, such words are passed straight to the heart as inputs. When the heart/mind receives it, it accesses it and chooses whether to retain/keep it or not. The heart easily disposes of it what it does not want and retains what it wants.

When positive words are kept in the heart it influences the intellect/mentality, feelings and emotions and the will-power positively. Since positive words are good, true, pure, lovely, wise, and holy inputs they influence the heart positively in ways such as; generates good thinking and imaginations, help build up one's faith, love, and hope, heal hurting hearts like healing balm, encourages, rejoices, edifies and keep the heart at peace and in good health. Proverbs 12:5.
However, when negative words get to a mind/heart, and the heart chooses to keep it, it influences the heart/mind intellect/mentality, feelings and emotions and the will-power negatively. Since negative words input are bad, toxic, evil, unkind, terrible and wicked, when it is stored in the heart it makes the heart provoked, dark, defiled corrupted, poisoned, harden and heavy. As such, the heart becomes afraid, provoked, sorrowful, bitter, weak, sad, foolish, troubled, unstable, angry and hopeless, depressed, bitter, confused, sad, dampened, discourage and hurt badly. All these are not good for the heart and must be avoided.

KEEP ONLY POSITIVE WORDS IN YOUR HEART
With all written so far, the importance of keeping one's heart from the influences of negative words cannot be overemphasized. God enjoined us to do this saying "keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life"
One of the ways the devil is using to get a lot of people to become downcast, sad, insecure, discouraged, depressed and even sick in these present times is by making them swallow or take to heart everything they hear hook, line and sinker.
Pathetically we are living in the fallen world that lies in sin and wickedness under Satan and full of evil people whose mouths are full of negative words. These days, bad news is the order of the day. Apart from this, people enjoy using profane, abusive, provocative, hurtful, slandering words, curses, abuses, reviling, vulgar, threats, mockery, condemnation, destructive criticism and jesting on individuals. How can one help the situation?

It is a fact that there is no way one can escape from hearing negative words; nevertheless, one can choose what one wants to take to heart or reject because nobody can force down into your heart what you don't want there. Not every word we hear have effect on us, but only those ones we take to heart affects us. Many of the things we hear on a daily bases are nothing but trash and toxic, good only to be ignored and discarded in the refuse dump. Therefore one must carefully chose the right words to take to heart as charged in Ecclesiastes 7: 21a "Take no heed unto all words that are spoken;.."

It is important to remember that people would say negative things about you as long as you are alive even when you are dead as they did to our Lord Jesus Christ, but don't take such things to heart. People would curse you and threaten you but know that as long as you are innocent that "the curse causeless shall not come" Proverbs 26:2, Lamentation 3:37. Whatever people think or say you are is of no significance. Rather, what God says and what you believe, think and say about yourself are all that matters and the word of God says you are love and honorable, Isaiah 43: 4. Where possible, avoid being anywhere evil news is being discussed and avoid associating with negative people that tell you depressing words Pay no attention to those who talk behind your back, because for them to talk at your back implies you are ahead of them and they cannot face you. Reject and declare null and void every divination and enchantment against you, Numbers 23: 23.
Whatever anybody says about you is just an opinion and not a fact. People may judge and condemn you, however, don't take such to heart because God's word for you is "no condemnation" Romans 8:1.

Don't let their words of condemnation break you down because no one has any right to judge you, instead condemn whoever has risen against you in judgment, Isaiah 54:17.
BE STRONG IN THE LORD AND IN THE POWER OF HIS MIGHT AND BE ENCOURAGED.

God loves you and so do I.

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