One Word of Faith

Words are extremely powerful. By God’s words, “Let there be light,” something appeared out of nothing. His mode of creation was to speak the world into existence.

Out of the entirety of God’s creation, people alone have the ability to speak words–not animals, not plants, not the earth, wind or sky. This is because we are made in the image of God to be His royal representation on this earth.

When Jesus walked the earth, the demonstration of His authority was also through words: “Be still!” he said to the sea, and it was still. “Get up and walk!” he said to the lame man, and he walked. “Be quiet! Come out of him!” said Jesus to the demons, and they left.

As His ambassadors, we get to share in His nature. this means our words, too, have enormous power.

Proverbs 18:21 puts it this way: “Life and death are in the power of the tongue.” The Message puts it even more plainly:

“Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit–you choose.”

One of my favorite worship artists, Michael W. Smith, has a song called “You Won’t Let Go.” In the song, he sings,

“No shadow comes without the light making a way

No raging storm can ever defy one word of faith.”

Today God wants to empower those of us who feel overwhelmed or anxious–like there’s too much to do, and not enough time to do it. Like there’s not a clear way forward. Like your circumstances are too much. LIke that relationship will never be fixed. Perhaps you want to exercise faith in this circumstance, but you simply don’t know where to start.

Today, remember that fighting back in faith can start with just one or two words.

As we are going about our day, sometimes we don’t have time for that worship or prayer session. Kids need feeding. Homework needs to get done. Deadlines are looming. But that doesn’t mean that there is not ample opportunity right when and where you are right now to develop and exercise your faith.

Today, God wants to remind you of the power you have to choose and create life with your words. You are empowered through the Holy Spirit to choose the reality you will see, believe and dwell in today. Is it a day filled to the brim with demands, and not enough time to do everything–or is it a day filled with opportunities for God to come through? Is it another boring day at a job you don’t like–or is it a day where you were blessed to wake up, provide for your family, and minister to the people around you?

When we speak words of faith and gratitude out loud, it signals to God–and to our Enemy–that we are choosing to see, dwell, and live in life today. Here’s an example: Say you are going through a time that you feel purposeless–no job, no prospects for school on the horizon. You have a choice. You can either say out loud, “I’m a failure, this day is meaningless” or you can say, “This is the day the Lord has made–I will rejoice and be glad in it! God has a purpose for my life and He’s called me to something amazing.”

Say your emotions are acting up. You feel stressed, anxious, out of control. You can either say, “Wow, this day is the worst, I’m giving up and I’m just going to eat my feelings.” Or you can speak to your emotions and simply say, “Be still! God is in control!”

We can choose words that kill the Holy Spirit’s work in us, or we can choose words that partner with Jesus’ life in us. But remember, words do impact our reality and the reality of those around us.

Life or death is in the power of the tongue–which will you speak out today?

And remember–you can start small! Pick a situation today, and speak one or two words of faith instead of fear. “Truly I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matthew 17:20.) Maybe your faith will start small–but God will multiply that one word, that small seed, into a life of power and purpose.

Application: 10 minutes

1. Take five minutes to pray. Start by confessing areas of your life in which you’ve spoken negatively: from fear, anxiety, anger, or envy instead of faith. Seal this time by praying Psalm 141:3 “Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips!”

2. Declare your intention to speak from faith today–and start! Choose an area of your life and speak life into it through Bible verses and truth about who you are in Christ. (For example: if you are experiencing fear: “God has not given me a spirit of fear or timidity, but of self-control and a sound mind!” (2 Timothy 1:7)