How to Use Words

The above Scriptures indicate the power of words – demonstrated by God in the course of creation.

“The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” [John 6:63 NLT]

The word of God is spirit, giving rise to life – it is not just mere words/sounds.

We are created in the image of God [Genesis 1:26; 2:7]– God gave us the ability to use words creatively (or we can use them negatively), that’s why God says on the day of judgement, we will account for every idle word spoken. [Matthew 12:36]

“A man’s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; [and] with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.  Death and life are in the power of the tongue; and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” [Proverbs 18:20-21 NKJV]  In other words, there is power in the words we speak – positive and negative.  We must choose whether we want to speak words that have positive consequences or words that are destructive.

“Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!” [Deuteronomy 30:19 NLT]

God wants us to use words that build up (i.e. give life) and not tear down. Our words are like seeds and every word we speak is like a seed planted.

Jesus said “Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.” [Mark 11:22-23 NKJV]

“Whoever” – refers to everybody – believer and unbeliever alike. This is a law of the universe, just like we have the law of gravity – whatever you believe in your heart and express with your mouth – that is what you will have.

Galatians 6:7 says “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.”

If you speak negative words over your life – that is what you will get. If you speak positive words, that is exactly what you will get.

You will notice that Jesus says whoever “says” will have whatever they say.

Those who do not believe in God believe in positive thinking and self-motivation. This in itself is good – the Bible tells us that as a man thinks in his heart, so he is. [Proverbs 23:7]. But, positive thinking and self-motivation on their own will not change your circumstances – it is the word of God spoken through our own mouths that brings into effect the promises of God. Silence is not good enough.

As Christians we stand and fight the good fight of faith by:

• Determining what it is in life you are either standing for or standing against
• Finding out what promises are in Scripture concerning the situation you are dealing with
• Meditating on the Scripture until your faith rises on the promise in the Scripture and/or you get your revelation from the Holy Spirit of the application of that Scripture to your circumstance (i.e. receive a rhema word)
• Declaring the promise in the Scripture over the situation that you are dealing with
• Believing that you have received what you prayed for and acting as though you have received what you have prayed for even if you don’t see it with your own eyes. [“Just as the body is without breath, so also faith is dead without good works.” – James 2:26 NLT]

How do you use words to bring about God’s promises in your life?

1. Read the word of God. You cannot confess the promises of God if you don’t even know what they are.

God magnifies His word above His name – Psalm 138:2. That means God will fulfill the promises of his word above everything else.

Jesus compared the Kingdom of God with a farmer who scatters seed on the ground – while he is awake or asleep, the seed sprouts but he does not understand how it happens. The earth produces the crop on its own. [Mark 4:26-28]

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.” [Proverbs 3:5 NLT]

That means we must confess the truth of God’s promises to our situation – even if it looks ridiculous to those around us. As a matter of fact, the more ridiculous your confession is in light of your circumstances, the more faith you exhibit – and that pleases God more than anything else. God is moved by faith.

Jesus Himself was laughed at when he went into Jairus’ house to raise to life his daughter who had died. Jesus said to the crowd that was wailing and weeping – “why all this commotion and weeping? The child isn’t dead; she is only asleep.” He maintained his confession in the face of opposition – and then He threw them out of the house (i.e. He got rid of the negative people around Him who were standing against His confession). [Mark 5:38-42]

2. Believe in what you confess (i.e. believe the word of God)

“Whatever you ask the Father in my name, He will give you…Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.” [John 16:23]

Your belief depends on the condition of your heart. Your belief will be tested by contrary circumstances and thoughts of doubt.

Our belief is determined by the condition of our heart.

Jesus said: “Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seed. As he scattered it across his field, some of the seed fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate it. Other seed fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seed sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. But the plant soon wilted under the hot sun, and since it didn’t have deep roots, it died. Other seed fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants so they produced no grain. Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they sprouted, grew, and produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!” [Mark 4:3-8 NLT]

“The farmer plants seed by taking God’s word to others. The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message, only to have Satan come at once and take it away. The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word. The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced. And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!” [Mark 4:14-20 NLT]

3. Maintain your confession

Don’t say things that contradict what you have declared or act contrary to what you have declared.

“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” [Hebrews 10:23 NIV]

Remind yourself to remain strong. The Bible says: “Let the weak say, ‘I am strong.’” [Joel 3:10 NKJV]

4. Watch what you allow into your heart (i.e. your spirit) through what you hear, what you look at, who you spend time with, the places you go to etc.

Be careful of what you listen to. Whatever you listen to will affect the condition of your heart. Eventually whatever is in your heart will come out of your mouth as words, i.e. an expression of what you believe. If you express words that are contrary to the word of God, you will be bringing forth evil out of your heart:

“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgement. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” [Matthew 12:35-37 NKJV]

The Bible says: “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” [Proverbs 4:23 NIV]

Say what you intend to come to pass i.e., say good things that you intend to come true. Don’t speak idle words that bring forth results that you don’t intend or words that are contrary to God’s word.

5. Be Patient

“And so, after [Abraham] had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.” [Hebrews 6:15 NKJV] Be patient. God is faithful to His word.

Living a life in which we use our words in line with the will of God begins with receiving Jesus Christ into your life as Lord and Saviour. If you have not yet done so, follow the steps below to receive Jesus into your life today.