Some of us think that we can say whatever comes to our mind. We’ve made a habit of allowing words to roll from our lips without considering how it might impact others. This is a dangerous game to play. Proverbs 18:21(NLT) tells us, “The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.” The truth of this wisdom reveals that our words can pack a powerful punch for both good and evil. If we don’t recognize this and put ourselves in check, we can land ourselves and others in a lot of trouble.
Words can be very powerful, and we can’t afford to be dismissive about this. A lot of the words that you and I have spoken in the past have shaped and molded the reality we have today. We spoke things into our reality, but most of us do not take accountability for it. One of the reasons for this may be our misunderstanding or lack of knowledge regarding the power of our words. We need look no further than the very beginning of creation to see the truth behind this.
God created the universe through His faith and words. Genesis 1:3(NKJV) tells us, “Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. 4 And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day.” There is no greater authority in all of time, space, and eternity than the authority of our God. Everything that exists comes under His authority and power. Well, in Genesis 1:26, He informs us that He created us in His very own image. Within each of us, He has woven the ability to do as He does, to speak things into existence by our words. This is what fuels our faith and believing. It is believing that we are who God says we are, that we can do what HE says we can do, and we can have what He says we can have according to the promises of His Word.
The power and authority that God has given us through Jesus Christ is meant to govern our lives, serve others, and keep us near to God. Ephesians 1:3 declares that God has blessed us with all spiritual blessings because of our union with Christ. With such supreme blessings come supreme responsibility. Part of this duty is to watch what we say and keep our mouths from speaking evil and negative things that are contrary to God’s Word. The psalmist prayed in Psalm 141:3-4(NLT), “Take control of what I say, O LORD, and guard my lips. 4 Don’t let me drift toward evil or take part in acts of wickedness. Don’t let me share in the delicacies of those who do wrong.” As God’s called out ones, we should pray this prayer every day of our lives.
Good or bad consequences come our way as a result of what we speak. Take for instance a situation of having less funds that you believe you need. Maybe all you have is five dollars in your bank account. Most people will look at this and say, “I don’t have any money” or “I’m broke”. Statements like these speak more lack into our existences. Proverbs 23:7(NKJV) tells us, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” This verse means that whatever we think about ourselves in our hearts will manifest itself into our lives.
Every word we speak is from a thought we’ve had. When we release this thought into the universe, we do so with manifestation power. Our thoughts contain the energy of our hearts. This is why God warns us in Proverbs 4:23(KJV), “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Our words don’t evaporate into thin air. They boomerang back to us in the form of something that enters our reality.
Rather than speaking negatives over our lives, as children with faith in God, we should declare and decree “I have all the money I need!” God is our sufficiency, and He tells us in 2Corinthians 5:7 that we’re to walk by faith not by sight. If you openly declare with your mouth that you’re broke, you have spoken death, and not life, over your money. No one should do this. The consequences of speaking death instead of life will always be lack. We can avoid this, and we should.
Jesus Christ declared in John 10:10(NKJV), “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” Jesus Christ came to earth to make a rich and satisfying life available to us. Abundance in Christ is our reality, everything else is a lie.
The tongue can bring death or life, and we are the ones to make this choice. If your life isn’t as blessed as you desire, examine the words you’re allowing to flow from your lips about your own circumstances in life. Do this on a daily basis. Don’t declare lies about yourself or about what God wants you to have and enjoy. Don’t speak something different from what He says. Get into His Word and know His promises for yourself. Declare His blessings over your life continually! God’s Word is true, and He guarantees that the blessings of His Word will show up in your life if you are faithful to declare and trust it with your whole heart.■
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
“The Tongue Can Bring Death or Life”, written by KLizzie, edited by Reverend Fran Mack, for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2022. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! SMS is dedicated to inspiring and encouraging Christian Women through the Word of God.