Just say it!
There used to be a saying, “sticks and stones can break my bones but word can never hurt me.” Any one who has had harsh words spoken over them (which is no doubt all of us at some point) knows this is absolutely untrue.
It’s so untrue that the scriptures speak directly to it:
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.” - Proverbs 18:21 NKJV
Negative words can bring great harm, but a good word spoken will bring life and hope.
God himself demonstrated the power of words when he spoke and the world came into being.
“And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.” - Genesis 1:3 NIV
“And God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear.” And it was so.” - Genesis 1:9 NIV
“And God said, “Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the vault of the sky.”” - Genesis 1:20 NIV
What he said, came to be.
You and I have this amazing opportunity every day to speak life and truth over those we love and over our circumstances. In the book of Ezekiel (Ezekiel 37:4) God tells Ezekiel to speak to the dry bones and command them to live. As believers we have authority to declare life and provision and healing. We can take the sword of the spirit and declare Gods truth in the midst of a battle. Of course we are not denying the reality of the present, but we are making a way for a new reality when we open our mouths with powerful declarations. His word in our mouth has power to release mighty breakthroughs and destroy the works of the enemy.
Garris Elkin in his book, Prayers from the throne of God, says, “Declarations are like the trump card thrown down in a card game; they declare victory.”
A harsh word can bruise a heart but a gentle word will be like balm to someone whose hurting and release peace into the atmosphere. When we carry the Holy Spirit in us, even more so, do our words affect the circumstances and people around us.
Jesus delivered people as he spoke with authority and commanded unclean spirits to come out and bodies to be healed. He taught his disciples do the same. Because the spirit of God lives in us, we carry his authority too, just as his disciples did. Jesus himself said we would do what he did and greater things!
His word in our mouths will encourage and build others up. Let’s choose to be deliberate about what comes out of our mouth. Let’s feed ourselves on Gods word so that we have a good supply of His word to declare over others and over our own lives.
“When you speak healing words, you offer others fruit from the tree of life. But unhealthy, negative words do nothing but crush their hopes.” - Proverbs 15:4 TPT
“And never let ugly or hateful words come from your mouth, but instead let your words become beautiful gifts that encourage others; do this by speaking words of grace to help them.” - Ephesians 4:29 TPT
