photo credit: flickr (creative commons)
There is great power in the words we say to ourselves and about ourselves. Do you believe that? According to Proverbs 18:21, the tongue has the power of life and death.
I am living proof of the power in our words. A few years ago I was struggling through so many things. Abandoment. Depression. Crying for no apparent reason. Then came the death of my father, and much more. I would constantly ask a friend, “Am I going crazy?” Every time she would say, “You’ve got to stop saying that!” I didn’t get it. I was constantly telling myself I was going crazy for having all these weird emotions.
Guess what finally happened?
I went crazy…
For four days I had literally lost my mind. I talked to people that weren’t there. I saw things that weren’t real. I refused to sleep. I believed what I had told myself, and therefore, my actions followed through with my beliefs.
There is a lady I know who has done this very thing. I have set with her several times listening to her talk about how poor she is. She would say things like, “Nobody helps me. I’m always sick. I’ll never get better. Nothing good ever happens to me.” I’ll admit I stomped out at the end of a few of our meetings wishing she would just put a zipper over her mouth. The negativity was driving me insane. Pardon the pun.
Though it’s been a few years since we’ve talked together for long periods of time, I see today the power in her words. She’s had one foot amputated. She sits in a wheelchair. The last time I visited with her at church, her thoughts and words hadn’t changed an ounce.
I wake up just about every day and tell myself that “Something Great Is Gonna Happen Today!” I thank Joyce Meyer for that inspirtation. It sets the course for my day. I don’t do it perfectly every day, but I’m a work in progress.
What comes out of your mouth can determine your life. Is our destiny in God’s hands? Absolutely. But, He has given us a mouth and a mind to use, and the power to do both good and evil with them both.
If you tell yourself you’re ugly…. then you will see yourself as ugly.
If you tell yourself you’re fat… then you will see yourself as fat.
If you tell yourself you’re crazy… then you will eventually see yourself as crazy.
You get the point.
To this day, I refuse to allow those words to come off my lips. I have seen crazy and I don’t like it. I will not allow the devil to convince AGAIN that I am.
As a matter of fact, when someone tells me I’m crazy or I’ve lost my mind, I am quick to go on the defense. I get a little over protective about those words and I plan to stay that way.
Choose your words wisely. They will impact your future.
What thoughts or words do you need to toss out today? Comment below…
Love this post. (In fact, I always love your posts, I just don’t always have the time to comment…and I am usually reading them from my Blackberry, which makes commenting more difficult…)
I have been trying to make sure that I do not “claim” anything negative for quite some time…I used to be better at it, even, but you start getting worn down by people around you sometimes, and you fall back into those habits…which is why returning to Jesus all the time is so important, and continuing in the Word!
In my own blog recently I talked about how I was told in 2002 that I had a slight case of asthma. It rarely ever flares up, and I prefer to say that I am overcoming it! In fact, today while out doing my Couch to 5K training session (I am on Week 2, Day 1, and it was hard for me!), I was not fighting asthma per say, but I could tell that my breathing was definitely getting a bit laborious…I decided right then and there to say out loud, “I am not afraid of asthma or cardiovascular limitations, for I trust in God wholeheartedly!”…and I know God will see me through and grant me wisdom if I need to make changes…
I know this will be a hot topic, but whenever I hear or read that someone needs prayer because they have cancer, it just stops me in my tracks. I just want to pray right then, Lord, I pray that they are OVERCOMING cancer. They do not have it. They do not own it. It does not belong to them…and I just hope someone can come alongside of them and speak those kinds of encouraging words in a non-offensive way that they can hear. Like I said, it’s a hot topic. I pray I don’t offend anyone by including it here…it is just that I believe in the power of our words and THE WORD!
love you much, Sundi Jo!
Love this post. (In fact, I always love your posts, I just don’t always have the time to comment…and I am usually reading them from my Blackberry, which makes commenting more difficult…)
I have been trying to make sure that I do not “claim” anything negative for quite some time…I used to be better at it, even, but you start getting worn down by people around you sometimes, and you fall back into those habits…which is why returning to Jesus all the time is so important, and continuing in the Word!
In my own blog recently I talked about how I was told in 2002 that I had a slight case of asthma. It rarely ever flares up, and I prefer to say that I am overcoming it! In fact, today while out doing my Couch to 5K training session (I am on Week 2, Day 1, and it was hard for me!), I was not fighting asthma per say, but I could tell that my breathing was definitely getting a bit laborious…I decided right then and there to say out loud, “I am not afraid of asthma or cardiovascular limitations, for I trust in God wholeheartedly!”…and I know God will see me through and grant me wisdom if I need to make changes…
I know this will be a hot topic, but whenever I hear or read that someone needs prayer because they have cancer, it just stops me in my tracks. I just want to pray right then, Lord, I pray that they are OVERCOMING cancer. They do not have it. They do not own it. It does not belong to them…and I just hope someone can come alongside of them and speak those kinds of encouraging words in a non-offensive way that they can hear. Like I said, it’s a hot topic. I pray I don’t offend anyone by including it here…it is just that I believe in the power of our words and THE WORD!
love you much, Sundi Jo!
Great points Robyn. thanks for sharing.
Never really thought of it that way. I mean i would never say the things i say to myself in my head to other people, because i don’t like hurting others. I never really thought of words to myself as being a big deal