Speak Life

“Some days, life feels perfect. Other days it just ain't workin’.  The good, the bad, the right, the wrong and everything in between…” 

Ever feel that way?  Toby Mac seemed to sum it up in these few lines.   

A few weeks ago someone told me how they were about to give up on things.  He had been hit hard with more bad than good lately.  Nothing was working out, his marriage was failing, work was a mess and his spiritual life was in the dumpster.  

Wondering what I could do, I took a look at the things he was saying through his social media posts.  You could see that there was a problem. Everything he was posting or sharing was dark, negative, full of complaining and lifeless.  The man seemed beat. 

He wanted a normal life again, but the pattern he developed wouldn’t lead him to that destination.  There was a lack of reality or promise of hope and I couldn’t wait to click off the site.  

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When “You” Speaks Stupid 

I know, making the statement “When ‘you’ speaks” doesn’t make sense and it’s really bad grammar.  You’re right, but it’s so appropriate here.   

In using the word “you” I’m referring to “you in general” meaning it can be anyone … you, me, he, she, they, we … anyone!  We all do it, that is, make stupid statements that change the outcome of a situation.   

Trying to curb what we say when “life” happens can be difficult, especially if things happen that are out of our control.

 

Most of the time, we don’t even think about what we say when the unexpected situation arrives.  Before we know it stupid (as my husband says) comes out of our mouths like a tongue that sticks to an ice cube. Once the words are out there you’re stuck with what you’ve spoken.   

Here’s what I mean. Maybe you can relate to this “certain” man who had days of it just ain't workin’ with most of this transpiring on the same day. 

Yup, this all happened to the same man.  He even filled me in on the details for this article!  He had plenty more for the week, but I needed to refrain from laughing or saying something stupid myself. 

It’s been one of those weeks where stupid just happened … you know when you’re doing something simple like removing plastic from the air conditioner and get stung by a wasp.  Why was it stupid?  You saw there were bees flying around the area and even said so to your mate! 

When ordering at Burger King you tell the cashier to put everything on the bun except the burger and she gets mad at you.  Why was it stupid?  You react by saying, “Evidently special orders do upset you.  I could go to Wendy’s; they don’t seem to have a problem with my orders.” Yeah, let’s get the person fixing the meal even madder! 

You heard that rain was in the forecast so you wanted to mow the lawn.  While mowing the fence line the mower runs out of gas.  After you fill the tank the engine won’t start, because the battery lost its charge.   

Pushing the riding mower to the driveway you decide to give it a jump from the car.  When you open the hood you realize the mower is too close and WHAM the hood slams on your hand!  BAM, reality hits you hard bro’! (Yeah, I went there!) 

So how could this be stupid?  The neighbor saw you by the car and said he wondered if he should go help – he didn’t.  Perhaps his hesitancy stemmed from the many confrontations when you said his music was too loud and that you would call the police? 

You’re ticked off at the computer because it won’t let you win a game on Solitaire.  When you see your wife playing you say, “That doesn’t look like it will work.”  She confidently says, “I think it will.” … and it does.  What’s stupid about this?  The husband was speaking his doubt into his wife, but good for her, she didn’t receive it. 

When listening to these situations I thought about all the stuff that had me put a leash on my own tongue so that God could favor me with His promises.  It took me back to a year ago this week – April 27^th, 2015. 

Casting Down Stupid  

There have been things going on this week that kept me casting down all imaginations the devil wanted me to speak.  Most of the thoughts were connected to my husband’s heart operations last year.  I knew that these thoughts were stupid, because they were already defeated in several ways.  

I use the word stupid because it goes way beyond dumb, which sometimes happens innocently.  First, all work of satan was defeated on the cross at Calvary by Jesus Christ.  Second, the things that were trying to sway my thinking didn’t line up with the promises of God’s blessings on the righteous and third, they never happened! 

“Casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ …” (2 Corinthians 10:5 ) 

When you know what God’s Word says about a subject, anything that goes against it isn’t true and needs to be rejected immediately by your thought-life.  Recognizing stupid ideas, dumb thoughts and ridiculous persuasive commentary can almost be seen as comical, because you know it’s not of God. 

Prayer Vocabulary 

While watching the birds at my place of rest, hubby and I shared some of the things that had been going through our minds that the other didn’t realize. 

Our conversation turned serious and tearful as we continued dialoging in the living room.  For several hours we shared our concerns. It was then that I told my husband how the devil was reminding me of the events of his surgeries when we were waiting for him to wake. 

Vivid pictures of how he looked, with all the tubes and equipment that were keeping him alive, played over and over like a re-run of E.R. during a life threatening emergency.  Every time I thought of something good the Lord did, satan would remind me of when my faith was tested and fear would try to surface.  I didn’t dare mention any of it to hubby, because for the longest time he had nightmares of the event. 

We are still standing on the Word of God for complete healing for my husband.  I realized that the devil wanted me to speak words of fear so that it could be re-introduced into our lives.  That’s when God reminded me of the words we spoke and have been speaking!   

Over the years my husband and I have developed a distinct vocabulary in prayer.  We speak the Word over a situation and expect God to deliver on His promise.  The day of each surgery was no different; we used our tongues as weapons of power. 

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who

love it (love life) will eat its fruit.” (Proverbs 18:21) 

Right before his surgeries my husband took my hand and spoke these words from Psalm 118:17 as they wheeled him into the operating room.  

“I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord.” 

God heard his prayer when my husband spoke life into a situation that lined up with the Word of promise.  Since then we’ve been praising God for what He has done through us, by sharing the goodness of God in the land of the living.  (Psalm 27:13) His testimony is what encourages others to speak life into their own gloomy circumstance. (Revelation 12:11) 

 

 

 

Consider Your Words  

My friend who is having so much trouble is lost in his own words of being busted and disgusted with life.  “Getting his life back to “normal” isn’t possible without God.  This gentleman says he trusts the Lord, but his actions go against what he says he believes, breaking the spirit of those who are looking for hope in His God. 

“A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness

in it breaks the spirit.” (Proverbs 15:4) 

Every time he told someone his problems, fears and doubts he was speaking those words over his life. He spoke this undesirable life into existence, because he hasn’t taken time to consider his words.  

“Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from troubles.” (Proverbs 21:23) 

When we speak contrary to the Bible our mouth is full of cursing, deceit and oppression.  Trouble is planted causing massive destruction opening the throat as a grave. (See Psalm 5:9 & 10:7) 

The “certain” man ends up speaking stupid things into existence, because he flies off the handle reacting to a situation before thinking it through (at least that's what he thinks).  There is a difference between the two; the second guy caught his words before they took root and wisely turned his conversations around every time.   

“I will guard my ways, lest I sin with my tongue; I will restrain my

mouth with a muzzle while the wicked are before me.” (Psalm 39:1) 

You may frown on how this “certain” male keeps getting himself in trouble, but he is at a different place along his journey with Jesus. Being quick to repent, he’s growing in grace and favor because he’s learning to consider his words. 

He did have a hard time giving God the praise when the car hood came down on his hand.  To his credit, later he thanked the Lord it only got a little bloody and there were no broken bones!   

Don’t be quick to judge.  How many times have you done the same sin repeatedly and then ran to the cross for forgiveness?  Like the Apostle Paul, I’ve beaten a path to Calvary myself.

 

This Week’s Challenge:

Speak Words of Life 

On Daily Favor I write about things I’ve been going through hoping it will inspire others to speak good things into people’s lives.  

Whether we realize it or not our words are used to build people up or tear them down emotionally, physically and spiritually.   When we forget this principle we end up canceling out favor from God in our lives, because we’ve failed to discipline the nasty side of the tongue (and I don’t mean bad breath). 

Our weekly challenge asks that we speak encouraging words of life. 

We can speak life and hope into a situation or be “gloomers” delivering a message of despair.  Our words can turn someone’s life around and give hope in every conversation we have. 

Things aren’t always going to work out the way we planned, dumb stuff causes us to say stupid things, and life is just going to happen.  As God’s children of promise we have His grace (favor and mercy) on our lives; no matter the situation or circumstance there is hope.  Our job is to convey that promise so others can see Jesus, not us. 

“You (God) have granted me life and favor,

and Your care has preserved my spirit.” (Job 10:12) 

Jesus is the One who has granted life to preserve your spirit, and not destroy it.  Right now I speak words of life into you, and that God’s favor will grace your situation giving you a testimony of hope to share. 

This week when you are caught up in living, speak life to the weary, brokenhearted and the wounded spirit. Speak wonderful words of life, love and hope into others that the Lord may grant you favor. 

 

Speak Life by Toby Mac 

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Until next time, God’s favor is spoken through words! 

 “My favor is canceled by untamed tongues.”

Jesus Christ

 

*Unless noted, the names in articles are changed to protect the individual(s) privacy. 

Note: The words satan or devil are not capitalized deliberately, because we give him no place in our lives. 

Disclaimer: Article information is not meant to be used as treatment for mental or physical issues, but geared toward spiritual awareness. 

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"Speak Life" lyrics as recorded by Toby Mac.
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