“For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.” (Mark 11:23 NKJV)
“The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.” (Proverbs 18:21 NLT)
“My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a ]perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things.” (James 3:1-5 NKJV)
This one is for YOU!
I just finished a phone conversation with my granddaughter in which we discussed the power of the words that come out of our mouth. As I hung up the Spirit impressed within me that there is someone out there that will benefit from hearing what the Lord has been teaching me (something inside you is telling you that YOU are that someone).
Whoever YOU are…
…YOU NEED TO STOP AND READ THIS!
Recently I had a day when I was very frustrated because for years I have been doing my best to live daily according to what the Bible teaches about “Positive Confession.” I have made videos and written blogs on this powerful truth. Yet, to be honest I have gotten far less positive results than I have expected.
I am fully persuaded that my words hold creative spiritual power as they are in alignment with the Word and empowered by the Holy Spirit. They are either faith-filled containers that bring life and blessing or fear-filled containers that bring death and decay. I have no doubt or unbelief when it comes to this area of my life. I am not double minded and in many ways I have been highly consistent when it comes to how I speak over my spirit, soul, and body. However, it became obvious that I am missing something. So I went to my Daddy (my heavenly Abba Father) simply asking, “Why?”
A few minutes after I cried out in frustration hoping to somehow figure this out I got on my phone to make a video. As I normally do, after I finished the video I spent a few minutes scrolling through some reels on YouTube. I came across one of my favorite Bible Teachers who just happened to be talking about the power of words in scripture and why he thinks many people try to do what scriptures teach and get little or no results (hmm. Interesting timing).
Here is my recollection of what he said, “The reason so many get such little positive results from speaking God’s promises is because their soul (mind) and body don’t believe what they are saying. We say things and then don’t do them like “I’ll be there at 7am” and then we show up at 7:20. Or we say things like “I’ve been dying to meet you” with no intention of dying. All day long we say things that we really don’t mean or we say things and then don’t do them. Then when we get sick we confess “by Christ’s stripes I am healed.” When we stay sick we wonder why. Our soul and body don’t differentiate between what we say in everyday life and what we say when we are praying or being “spiritual ” Bottom line: you don’t believe what you are saying when you say it so often that your soul (mind) and body don’t respond to your words. You don’t truly believe what you say so you don’t receive the promised results.”
Wow! That hit me between the eyes! I had been blind to the gap between my “normal” (with little thought) daily conversations and my “normal” (with much thought) prayers and positive confessions. I immediately repented (changed the way I think about my “everyday” words and began changing how I think, speak, and act to line up with God’s Word) and asked the Lord to help me “take every thought captive” and take control of every “idle word” that I speak. I look forward to experiencing the change in my life that will come from the change in my words and follow through in actions on what I say. I am committed to saying what I mean and meaning what I say. I am committed to getting to the point where my soul and body believe what I say.
This has helped me. I hope this will help YOU as you ponder…
…Eric’s Life Lesson # 502: Trustworthy Words