I used to believe that my words really did not matter! I would so easily say positive as well as negative words about myself or my situation. Soon the negative words overtook the positive ones and I began to believe the negative narrative which sent me into a downward spiral.
I noticed that my patience wore very thin and my tolerance level for things going wrong was even thinner! I became very bitter, angry and so frustrated with the way my life was going! Sadly, that attitude carried over to others - the clerk at the store when I was frustrated at the rising prices of items, or the tech person on the other line doing their best to help me fix the problem I encountered. Sadly, oftentimes, they would receive the attitude behind my frustration, and that bitterness and anger would sometimes rise up in my attitude leaving them to feel attacked and most likely labeling me a "Karen".
Through my daily Bible Study, and reading the Word, God gently began to reveal to me that I needed to change my attitude! I began to work on my heart and realized through the Word that my words really do carry power and as the verse above says, carry life or death! I have become more conscious about what I say, especially to myself! That negative self-talk has got to stop! How though? When you have listened to them for so long, it is hard to get them out of your mind and BELIEF!
It's interesting that God tells us to "renew our minds" over and over! I had heard someone say 365 times the Bible tells us this, however, I was unable to substantiate this. Suffice it to say, when the Bible repeats something, God means it! So how do we go about renewing our minds? First of all, it is so important we pay attention to what we allow to influence us! When we allow the world and media or social media to influence our beliefs, we begin the downward spiral into the negative. The World's ways are often contradictory to God's ways. So pay attention, close attention to who you are allowing to influence your mind.
The best way to influence your mind is through reading God's Word - the Bible! If you spend time studying or reading the Word each day, you develop a great filter that will help you weed out the negative influences of the world and even some well-meaning, but misleading Christians who mishandle the Word. Sadly, there are many who do! Your best bet is to become familiar with the original Author - God and invite the Holy Spirit to do His job - to lead us into all truth! God's Word never fails!
As we begin to allow God's Word to influence our lives, we begin to see our minds being renewed! Soon we quickly realize the subtle lies of the enemy wrapped around an element of Truth, but designed to influence us against the Truth! Satan's greatest goal is to get us to doubt and develop unbelief. He always contradicts what God says about us!
Self-talk is where the enemy loves to attack us. It is so important that we take back the ground we have given to him by believing his lies and countering them with the truth! The Bible instructs us in Ephesians 6:10-18 to put on the full armor of God, this is so critical in the battle to renew our minds! We need to put on the helmet of salvation, the breastplate of righteousness, the belt of Truth, our feet ready with the Gospel, and take up our weapons - the shield of Faith, which is able to extinguish the fiery arrows the enemy shoots at us and the Sword, the Word of God which is able to cut through bone and sinew, cut to the core and defeat those who come against us - Satan!
Another great tool is fellowship with other believers and accountability! We need to go into battle with a supportive team who will encourage us, pray for us, and go into battle with us! And perhaps the most powerful tool we have is Prayer! Prayer is able to accomplish much, especially when 2 or more are gathered in prayer. Prayer does not have to be a long drawn-out prayer - look at Jesus' example, it often was short and sweet and to the point! Knowing our True Identity in Christ Jesus enables us to use the power and authority He has given us through the Holy Spirit!
There is so much more I could share about what God has taught me about how powerful my tongue is and how to renew my mind. I will definitely dive into this subject further, but this is a great place to start. We need to be careful about who and what we allow to influence our hearts, for as the Bible says in Matthew 15:18 "But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them."
Hope this blog post has influenced you to be careful what you allow your tongue to speak! Choose words carefully, they do carry the power of Life or Death!