If I Must Say So Myself: Why the Words You Choose Matter More Than You Think

What you say out loud is usually quickly forgotten but will have the most impact in your life. Your words are not only an indication of what you believe, they are also the winds by which the sails of your life are adjusted. In other words, what you say will be the reality you invite into your life.

In the scriptures, there was a time when Jesus was hungry. As He made His way to a fig tree, He noticed that it had no fruit on it. Frustrated and disappointed that His lunch plans had gotten cancelled, He cursed the fig tree and said out loud, “May you never bear fruit again.” The next morning as He and His disciples passed that same tree, they stopped in amazement and noticed that the fig tree was withered up and had no leaves. Using this moment as a teaching moment, Jesus says to His disciples, “…if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done.”

In the beginning, God said “Let there be light…” And there was light. If you and I have been created in His image, don’t think for one second that your words are not powerful and effective. There is a reason why you use curse words when you are in a heated discussion. Your intention is to pierce the heart of those you argue with and cause them to hurt. The scripture says it like this, “Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” Don’t use your words to cause harm and create a culture of hostility and disruption. Use the power of your words to bring encouragement, healing, grace, creating a culture of peace.

Let me also encourage you to use your words to change the landscape of your life. In the book of Joel as God is preparing the nations for battle, he says something interesting. He says, “Let the weak say I am strong.”  When we are facing our own personal battles of sickness and disease, financial disruption, relationship drama, after so many rounds we find ourselves tired and weak, wanting to just throw in the towel. When you find yourself in the proximity of weariness and weakness, don’t say things like, I’m tired, I’m weak, I’m sick of this…. If you do, you’ll find yourself unexplainably tired, having no strength, and finding yourself unexplainably sick. While you may blame it on stress, the reality is you have said things out loud, unintentionally bringing to pass these things into your life.

As the scripture encourages you, say I am strong. Say things like, I am healed. I am being strengthened. There is no financial lack in the Kingdom of my God. I am fully loved and accepted. New doors are opening for me. I am forgiven. My relationship is being healed. Friends, set your sails according to the abundance of God’s grace! The scripture says that the power of life and death are in the tongue. Use your words to speak life over your situation and over others. When you do this, you will see the shifting of your sails leading you to greater outcomes, prosperity, and favorable answers to your prayers.