This is both a question and a statement. I’ve spoken about the power of words before and we need to realize what we say is far more important than we think. Scripture is very clear: “Death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Proverbs 18:21) In the New Testament, James (chapter 3) tells us we need to realize that the tongue can’t be tamed and, by inference, we need to put a watch on our words.
Speaking also tells others what we believe. Paul (2 Corinthians 4:13) says: “‘I believed and therefore I spoke,’ we also believe and therefore speak”. Therefore, what we say has great significance, probably far more than we realize. Perhaps a couple of examples will illustrate: do you say you can or you can’t? Philippians 4:13 tells us that we can do everything through Christ who strengthens me. Sooo, what can’t you do? Or is this more an issue of what you may or may not want to do? Another example is in verse 19. Though I’m not in the ‘name it, claim it’ group He tells me He will meet my needs. What’s important to understand is that a ‘want’ is not necessarily a ‘need’.
Are you afraid? We learn that “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2Timothy 1:7). Why should we fear? Of what should we be afraid? Most battles are won or lost in our spirit because that is the source of our actions – what are you saying to yourself? Another area is worries and frustrations, but because I am always “casting all (my) care upon Him for He cares for (me)” (1Peter 5:7), why waste my time worrying?
Perhaps the greatest area we have to overcome is our view of us. We’ve lived with us so we know what we have done. But while we can’t lightly dismiss the past it is who we were, not who we are becoming. 2 Corinthians 5, beginning in verse 17 tells us that we are a new creation and now we need to learn how that directs our days. Also, we should not hold onto all those old mistakes that condemn us, for “there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1)
But all this begins with what we say. What and who do you say you are? Are you a can’t, needy, afraid, worried, condemned person… is that what you say? Or… do you say, “I am being renewed in the spirit of my mind and I am putting on the new man which was created according to God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:23-24)
