Hi Friends,
Last week, we talked about speaking truth into the lives of others whether they want to hear it or not. This week let’s talk about the power of the words we speak to ourselves. Listen to this amazing verse:
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.” Pr 18:21 NASB
Words have power. I think we would all agree with this simple statement, yet do we keep this truth in mind when we speak? And how much less when we speak to ourselves? If we choose to use uplifting, merciful, loving words to ourselves, we will feel positive, hopeful and grateful. This is Life. On the other hand, if we use pessimistic, overly critical, condemning language, we will feel negative, hopeless and defeated. This is death. The words we tell ourselves are of vital importance, yet how much to we really stop and think about what we are thinking about? Both types of words will eventually, and sometimes immediately, bear fruit in our lives for good or bad. But praise God, because of the Father’s Love for us, because of the sacrifice of Jesus on our behalf and because of the indwelling Presence of the Holy Spirit within each believer, we can choose what words we will speak.
Not every thought is yours. I think one of the most powerful things God has taught me all these years is simply that I do not have to think about every thought that pops into my mind. As I said last week, we are influenced by countless amounts of voices, and the enemy is certainly one that is always trying to get us to think “dead” thoughts. His main agenda is to kill, steal and destroy and one of the subtle ways he does this is by slipping thoughts into our minds. We can always tell if it is his slithering voice because we will sense the death that results. So if you are feeling downcast, stop and pay attention to the words you have been feeding yourself in your thoughts. As we grow in Christ, we learn to not own any thought that is not consistent with what God says in His Word. We begin to align our minds with the Truth that we are loved and accepted by God even as we are becoming more and more like Him. The more we think like God thinks, the more we will speak life giving words to ourselves and the more this fruit will show up in our attitudes and behaviors. Words really do have the power of life or death.
Words can make the difference between success or failure. I’m not talking about the “name it and claim it” false philosophies some might be pushing out there. But I am encouraging us to speak words of victory over our lives instead of falling into a victim mentality. God is not only Love and Life, but He Himself is our Victory. If we are truly His children, then why would we allow ourselves to speak words of discouragement, depression or division into our lives? Yet we do, don’t we? The issue is these thoughts that come AT us sound like they come FROM us, but many times they don’t. The more mindful we are about these words, the more we can control which ones we agree with, repeat to ourselves and then let have power over us for good or bad. We have to pay attention to the words that come into our mind, then decide if we want them to dictate our emotions, desires and actions. If they are Life, then yes we should meditate on them. But if they are death, we need to drop the thought and not say those words to ourselves. Thank God, He is with us to help us discern and make Life choices.
Words can cause us to be joyful or pitiful. The next time we happen to drop something and the immediate thought comes to our mind is something like, “Oh I’m such a clumsy fool,” let’s please stop before we repeat that lie! If we don’t stop there, the enemy will continue down a very dark path. The next lie he will slip in might be something like, “Man, I can’t do anything right!” And who knows what other death words he will hiss in our ear after that?! Instead, let’s learn to pay attention. To stop and think. To use this incredible mind God has given us to invite Life in, so we may have, enjoy and share this Abundant Life He designed us to live. Lord, give me words of Life. This is still an ongoing lesson for me, but the more I pay attention to how I speak to myself, the more joyful my life gets. Want that? Then won’t you join me?
Until we meet again, keep lifting your eyes to God, He’s closer than you think.
<>< Peace, Diane
