I know that I've said this to people before, especially if they were saying something that was seemingly out of the way to me! LOL! And many of you probably have, too! The Bible tells us that the power of life and death is in the tongue (Proverbs 18:21). But we don't oftentimes hear the rest of that verse. It reads like this in the New Living Translation version:
The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.
I loved to talk as a kid, and I still LOVE to talk now. However, the Holy Spirit has taught me to bridle my tongue at times and speak wisely. Too many times, we talk and don't listen. We open our mouths and say things without thinking. And once you put those words out there, don't you realize you can't take them back? The uplifting or damage has already been done.
Sometimes, you may hear someone say, "Oh don't say that you're sick. You're speaking it into existence." And your natural response may be, "But I am sick. I have the flu." Let's stop right there. You're opening your mouth and speaking 'flu' to your mind, which will in turn, affect your body. Our bodies respond to what our minds are thinking. (I know...that's heavy) Even if you have been diagnosed with the flu, you don't have to CLAIM the flu! Amen?
I want to encourage you to try this. Start watching your mouth. I mean...really make a conscious effort to watch what you say. You can kill a person spiritually or naturally with the words you say. Now that's real talk! Open your mouth and declare the Word over your life and the lives of your children and children's children, your loved ones, even your co-workers who get on your nerves. A good place to start is Deuteronomy 28:2-13! There are so many promises there. If for some reason something is ailing your body, decree and declare Isaiah 53:5 or Jeremiah 30:17, speaking and commanding your healing to come forth!
These are just a few examples to get you started! I'm encouraged just as I'm typing :) I know that there is power in my tongue. I'm going to choose to speak life...even over those situations that appear to be dead. Okay....that's another post!
Be encouraged!
~Tee
Amen and Amen! Words ARE important. Many people don't think about what they are saying. I have been taught about the power of words for many years and even I don't always listen to what I am saying. God SPOKE the world into being and we have His power through Jesus' death and resurrection. Every word we speak has the potential for Life or Death.
ReplyDelete@lrlthomas: Thanks for the comment and the perspective! We were created in His image, so we DO posses the power to SPEAK things into existence!
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