Positive Speaking

This past Shabbos we read the first chapter of Isiah. the prophet first laments the fact that the people of Israel had nearly become as evil as the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah. In the very next verse, the prophet then refers to the people as inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah.

The Talmudic sages are puzzled by this. They had almost become like the Sodomites according to the first verse, but they were not Sodomites. Why then does he call them Sodomites immediately after?

The Talmud explains that we see from here the power of words. Don't open your mouth for the Satan. Once the prophet spoke out even the possibility of their becoming Sodomites, they immediately became so. When we express fears and negative thoughts, our words have power, and they can become true.

Of course the reverse is true as well. When one expresses positive ideas, hopes, and plans, verbalizing them can bring them to fruition.

Positive thinking and positive speaking create future positive realities.