The odds are pretty good that you’ve heard more than a few teachings on the power of the tongue. Well, I’m of the opinion that we can never hear too many. The instrument that is anchored on our faces, in the center, south of our noses, is the single greatest tool we own to partner with God’s Kingdom. If we would receive the heft of this truth in our hearts, it will transform our lives! You’ve probably heard Proverbs 18:21 plenty of times, and you know that death and life are in the power of the tongue. This is bible! Yet, our tongues are still unruly. Many of us today continue to have so much trouble getting our tongues, minds, and hearts in sync with God’s Word. The words that come out of mouths can literally transform our existences and anchor each of us in the miraculous. If you will allow, I’d like to make this case from God’s Word in a way that is undeniable.
When it comes to the words we speak, and the confessions we make, most of us are thinking backwards. What do I mean by this? Well, I know it’s rude to answer a question with another question but indulge me please. Let me begin this explanation by first asking how many of us are in need of a miracle in our lives today? Most of us are asking for a supernatural move of God in our conditions and circumstances. We’re praying that He will elevate us out of what we’re in and promote us to a new dimension of blessings. We tell the Father, “I’m still waiting on You, God. You need to fix this.” Some may be thinking they don’t have to meet God’s requirement of growing in Christ, and that they’ll receive His rewards without speaking, thinking, and behaving increasingly like Christ.
God wants us to grow spiritually, and some of us expect to remain the same. Life dictates that challenges become more complex with the passage of time. If we’re not growing spiritually, we won’t be prepared for the complexities of challenges that are ahead. This is one of the reasons that many single women view the prospect of crossing paths with a future husband as being difficult. The Spirit is willing, but their hearts and minds are not matured in Christ to the point of backing their faith with fully-persuaded action and believing.
God warns us in Proverbs 4:23(NLT) “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” Everything flows from our hearts. The words we speak are supposed to be reflective of the treasure we carry within. God warns us to be on guard, so that we don’t allow the bad stuff like jealousy, arrogance, pride, and anger into our minds and hearts. And if we don’t allow the bad stuff in, we won’t have to worry that bad stuff will come out. God affirms that indeed there is power in the tongue, there is power in the words we speak. Faith requires the words that come out of our mouths to be on board with the life we desire for ourselves.
If you are using your power to say something different from what God says, you are not backing your faith with the truth. God’s Word is true, and when we confess the promises of His Word with faith and conviction, we demonstrate that we are spiritually ready to receive the blessings we desire. As spiritually mature men and women, we must know that if we refuse to humble ourselves in this area of our lives; God certainly will not reward our refusal.
We are to be aware that our mouths contain within them a rebellious urge to spew out words that are contradictory to the existence we want and deserve. The moment before we speak contradictory words, our brains do some calculating, and we think, “I know I shouldn’t be speaking this way, but I’ve got to let this out. It’s negative. It bears false testimony and witness of God’s unbelievable goodness, but I’ve always spoken this way, so I’m going to keep on talking.” The truth of what we’re really conveying is, “I’m going to keep on creating exactly the thing that I’m speaking forth, all because I don’t trust the instrument that God has given me to effect real and lasting change in my life.”
God’s Word, the Bible, is the perfect demonstration that words have power. God’s Word will transform lives, situations, and circumstances for the better. If we say the same things that He says, imagine the outcome. Our Heavenly Father’s Word is the truth! And God blesses His Word; He backs it up! So, if you speak what He speaks, you can’t lose. But if you are speaking something that doesn’t invite the blessings of God into your life, then exactly what do you think you’re inviting? We must be ever so careful with the words we speak.
In Mark 11:22-23 (NKJV), Jesus Christ said, “Have faith in God. 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.” Notice that the Master didn’t say “whoever thinks about this mountain…” He said “whoever says…” The mouth is the key to activating faith. Faith comes by HEARING God’s Words. Faith works by SPEAKING God’s Words. Faith cannot be separated from the leading of the Holy Spirit. You are a spiritual being, and you must align your words in partnership with the indwelling Holy Spirit to move by his power. It’s not your power; it’s his power, and if you bind him through your words, he cannot work on your behalf. We think backwards because we wait year after year for God to move, but He has already moved. He has already empowered you, and you are poised for greatness by the confessions, prophecies, and declarations of His Word that flow from your lips. ■