You may not realize it, but your words hold incredible power, both positively and negatively. Everything we say aloud has the ability to affect and influence our lives and the lives around us. God designed this world so that our words activate the supernatural. Proverbs 18:21 says it this way, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”
We must be very careful about what we say and how we say it. It’s easy to put voice to our feelings and thoughts, but are those thoughts “captive to the obedience of Christ” (1 Corinthians 10:5)? If our thoughts are Godly, then we should speak those words of life. But, if our thoughts are birthed out of our own soul or from the enemy, then we cannot give those thoughts a voice. We must guard our mouth and avoid speaking anything that does not produce life in us and in those around us.
James compares our tongue to the rudder on a ship (v3:6). This rudder, though it be very small, guides and directs this giant vessel. There is tremendous power that pushes the ship through the water, but it’s the rudder that guides and tells it where to go. So it is with our tongue–our entire life is guided and directed by our tongue.
I read a story yesterday about a businessman who had partnered with someone that was less than honest, and things started to go south in their business. The businessman knew his partner was being dishonest with him, but there was no proof. The businessman would come home at the end of the day and say to his wife, “This partner of mine is evil and corrupt. He’s going to end up in jail and take us with him.” His wife warned him about his words. She explained to him that our words were powerful, but he shrugged it off.
Day after day, he would come home and speak negatively about this partner and the business situation, and his wife would warn him. After a few months with no change in the situation, the businessman was praying and God showed him that his words were negative and causing more problems, just as his wife said. Immediately, he repented and began to bless his partner, bless his family, bless his children, bless him with success and peace. Within a week, the businessman got a call from his partner, “We need to talk. I haven’t been honest with you, and I just need to make this right with you.”
This story illustrates how negative words can restrict and bind the work of God in our life, and open ourselves to attacks from the enemy. It also demonstrates how positive, Godly words can release God to do amazing and wonderful things in our life. “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 18:18).
If you’ve spoken negative words over yourself or over others, don’t be condemned. Jesus did not come into this world to make you feel bad (John 3:17). He came to give you life and life more abundantly (John 10:10). I would encourage you to talk to God about your words. Tell him how you’ve spoken out when you shouldn’t have. Ask him for strength to speak words of life and words of encouragement. Then, start speaking words of life, love, hope and peace.
A few weeks ago, I was praying and talking to God about the power of words, and God gave me a declaration to speak out loud in the mornings, and I want to share that declaration with you.
I declare in the name of Jesus Christ that:
- I am a child of God, and I have a Kingdom inheritance, today.
- I am seated with Christ in the heavenly places.
- I am free from all fear, all anxiety, all panic, all confusion.
- I am free from all sickness, all disease, all injuries, all illness, all infirmities.
- I am healed through the name of Jesus Christ, whom I serve.
- I am at peace in my body, in my soul, in my spirit.
- I am a citizen of heaven.
- I am the head, and not the tail. I am victorious.
- I am prosperous, in my soul, in my finances, in all that I have.
Each declaration is based on a promise from God in scripture. As I speak these promises out loud, I do so slowly and methodically making sure my heart agrees with the words that are spoken. And, I listen for God’s agreement over these promises.
This week, I encourage you to listen to the words you speak. Are they words of life, or words of death? Ask God to help you speak good words, Godly words, words of life!
Prayer: Father, help me guard my mouth against any negative words, and help me to speak only words of life!
