Dear Friends

Take a minute. Slow down. Don’t be in a hurry. And if you’re willing, allow me to ask you a question. My question for you is this: What did you say today?

It’s a simple question that has great impact on your daily life. Think about your answer for a minute. Not because you have to answer perfectly but because your answer can help lead you somewhere special. Your answer and my encouragement that follows can take you on a journey down a pathway to health, wholeness, and freedom, regardless of your current life circumstances.

I’m asking this question because over the years God has taught me . . . What you say determines the kind of life that you are going to live. It’s true! The words you speak can change the course of your whole life!

Imagine the following situations:

When co-workers were complaining about the boss, what did you say?
When that unexpected bill came in the mail, what did you say?
When your spouse started an argument, what did you say?

James 3:4–5 says that our tongue is like the rudder of a ship, and it can redirect our lives. And Proverbs 18:21 (AMPC) says: Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it [for death or life].

You will have challenges in life, but you can make them better or worse by the way you talk about them. Your words affect your mood, attitude, decisions, and even relationships.

I know this firsthand. I used to be the most negative person I knew. I was pessimistic, critical, and not a lot of fun to be around. But even worse, I was literally cursing my life and my relationships through the negative things I said on a regular basis. I’m so glad God didn’t leave me in that place. He patiently began to teach me that . . . When you speak positive, faith-filled words based on the Word of God, it stirs your faith — it helps release God’s will into your life and builds up your relationship with others.

However, this also works the other way around. When you speak negatively, you open the door for the enemy to bring negative things into your life and relationships. Your words are containers of power. Everything that you say — whether positive or negative — has the ability to affect yourself and others for the good or bad. You can literally increase your own joy by speaking the right words. But you can also upset yourself by talking unnecessarily about your problems or things that have hurt you.

When you truly understand the power of your words and realise you can choose what you think and speak, your life can be transformed. That’s why I began this letter asking you: What did you say today?

But it’s not just a question for today. Every day we need to ask ourselves: How am I talking about my life and my future? Am I declaring good things or am I speaking words of doubt and fear?

Instead of saying, this situation is never going to change, choose to say, God can make a way where there seems to be no way! (Isaiah 43:19)
Instead of saying, I’m never going to make ends meet this month, choose to say, God will provide everything I need and more! (Philippians 4:19)
Instead of saying, I guess I just have to live with this illness, choose to say, God is my Healer, and I trust the promises in His Word. (1 Peter 2:24)

I encourage you to begin speaking out God’s promises over your life. The Bible says that His Word is alive, active, and full of power (Hebrews 4:12). It’s time for you to STOP saying the wrong things and START saying the right things.

When you begin to speak His words out of your mouth, you are cooperating with Him in bringing about His good plan for your life. One of the first things I say when I get up in the morning is, "God, I bless this day in Jesus’ name. I bless myself and my husband. I bless my children, my grandchildren, my sons-inlaw and daughters-in-law, and our entire family. I’m blessed when I come in and blessed when I go out!" (Deuteronomy 28:6).

That’s just a small example, but I encourage you to do the same thing. All throughout your day, focus on ways you can use your words to speak God’s promises over your life.

If you’re used to speaking negative words, you won’t change every habit overnight. But with God’s help, little by little, you can begin to change the way you speak. If you are determined to live the life Jesus has for you, you can learn to declare God’s promises — His words of life — over yourself and those around you.

Are you ready to STOP saying the wrong things and START saying the right things?

If God did it for me, He can do it for you. You can discover the power of speaking God’s promises! Remember: God has a big, full life in store for you. And when you speak in agreement with His Word, you are cooperating with Him to bring about His plans and purposes. What you say today . . . tomorrow . . . and every day after that matters. Choose words of life and watch what God will do!

Learn to STOP saying the wrong things, and START saying the right things that God’s Word says about you and your situation. It will take you down the most beautiful pathway for living!