As believers we understand that we have the ability to tear down and create by the words that we speak, but the question becomes are we utilizing our authority to do these very things? If we are letting our words speak what does not edify our health, our circumstances, our very life, then we are not walking in the promises that God has declared belong to us by His very nature. So, not by our nature, but by the very nature of God and what His nature testifies to.
We can’t align ourselves with ourselves, leaving God out of the mix, and expect to see the supernatural power of God move in our lives. If we are not using God’s Word to speak the Kingdom of God into action then we are missing out on a critical tool that we have been given. We should be speaking from the heart of He who is within us.
Truthfully, we can’t keep people from speaking words that are spoken out of the condition of their heart, but we can decide how we allow those words to affect us. The words that someone speaks in anger, out of selfishness, or ignorance can only have the power over us that we give them. In other words, if we take those words and start to align our thoughts with what has been spoken, then we are allowing those words to rob and steal from us. It is then that our thoughts become tainted by these words and our actions will start to reflect the negative that we are believing.
We have all experienced the constant bombardment of words that others are not only speaking, but that they are actually yelling. Often it becomes a test to see who can shout the loudest and get the most attention, but ultimately we get to make the choice to listen or turn the noise off.
Yesterday, I had some rather interesting moments when a man in a coffee shop was expounding on why we should not help the homeless. His words were cutting and with each word that was spoken there was the obvious presence of fear and hate. Throughout this encounter I had to keep my peace in the forefront of my mind and continually remind myself that it was the enemy behind this individual that was speaking.
Just as a person speaks out of their heart, often revealing things that are not too nice, we too get the opportunity to speak out of our heart that has been redeemed by Jesus. How we respond to words spoken with such a vengeance may not change how a person thinks, or speaks, but it absolutely must not be allowed to go unchecked. We must speak truth in love, and we must speak that truth whether it is received or not.
John 7:38 CSB The one who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, will have streams of living water flow from deep within him.
Matthew 6:21 CSB For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.