We often fail to realize how important our words are. It is written in Proverbs 18:21, Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.


Have you ever noticed that you tend to do what you talk about? We will say one day you want to buy another vehicle. You think about it, then pretty soon, you’re talking about it, and the next thing you know, you’re deciding exactly what kind of vehicle you’re going to buy, and you’ve already decided what color it’s going to be.

I can relate to that very thing, because a friend told me he was going to sell his motor home. Now, I wasn’t really even in the market for one, but having known him for a while, and having worked on that motor home and knowing it very well, I mentioned it to my wife that it was for sale. That got me thinking about it, and talking about it, and a couple days later I bought it. Many times we end up doing what we talked about earlier, and that’s just an example.

Consider all these people rioting about this or that today. First they though about it, then they talked about it, and then they did it. That’s how it works for pretty much everyone, because that’s how we’re wired from our Creator.

That ONE verse out of the whole Bible is a very profound truth. Good or bad, what we talk about is what we end up with. Consider in our relationships; notice how they tend to go in the direction of how we talk to others. If you tell your mate how happy you are that they are married to you, more often than not, they’re going to treat you better. But if you tell that person that they are not desirable, and that they’re about the biggest disappointment there is, well, you may end up sleeping on the sofa. As the Proverb says, death and life are in the power of the tongue….

Are YOUR words bringing you death, or life? Are they bringing you joy, or sorrow? Are they bringing you health, or sickness? Now, you can blame anything you want to for how your life is going, but the truth be known, YOUR life is determined largely by YOUR words, not anyone else’s. You can complain about your job and how you hate it, and if you complain about it long enough, you WILL hate your job. OR….did you ever think about talking how much you ENJOY your job? I ran a furniture repair business for over half my life, as a second job, and I loved that work! I got up every day looking forward to my job. Everyone I talked to about it quickly learned how I enjoyed fixing things, and it was a very profitable business that I never got tired of.

I met lots of people every day, and word got around how good the quality of my work was and there was never any shortage of business, even in years when others weren’t doing well, I prospered….exceedingly! The only reason I closed it was to go into full time ministry. I remember praying each day, asking God to bless the work of my hands, and boy, did He ever! Never, ever, did I complain about my job, even though it was sometimes very long hours, often in hot or cold warehouses, spending 12 or more hours on my feet, working without even stopping for a break. I’d spend a lot of my time praising God while working. I mean, when you’re praising God, it’s hard to complain about anything, when your heart is fixed on God, right?

Whenever I went on service calls to people’s homes, they could tell I loved my work, and instead of checking the clock to see when it was quitting time, I’d talk to them, and usually end up praying with them or leading them to salvation while I fixed their furniture. It’s hard to get tired of a job you love so much, and the more years I did it, the more I loved it. Why? Because of the words of my mouth. Early on in my walk with Christ Jesus, I learned that my words framed my destiny. I’d listen to people gripe and complain, and noticed how miserable they were. I’ve been miserable, and I’ve been happy. Guess which I like better?

You’d think that most miserable people would get tired of talking about how miserable they are, and talk about something else, but they don’t. It’s almost like, once you become miserable about whatever, you love to tell everyone about it. And you know how it is, you can be around “Negative Pete” for just so long, then you can’t wait to get away from him, because he makes YOU miserable, just listening to him. I’m sure you know someone like that. I know SEVERAL like that. Some people tell me I should avoid being around them, but hey, I’m an encourager, and hope that by pumping God’s Word into them, I can help them break out of their negativity.

Another thing…..There are some people that complain about how badly they feel all the time, instead of filling their mouths with healing scriptures that will break them OUT of sickness. They’re using their words wrong, and they just keep feeling bad, because they keep talking how bad they feel. Back when I had cancer in 1993, I could have talked about how bad I felt, and about how much pain I was in, but instead, I’d only talk about how I’m healed by the stripes of Jesus, and I wouldn’t let anything come out of my mouth that wasn’t in line with God’s Word. And I’ve been doing it for over 27 years now, and I’m STILL healed! Don’t tell me God’s words don’t work! But if you don’t CONSISTENTLY use God’s Word, how do you expect it to work for you?

Matthew, Mark, Luke and John tell us how MULTITUDES were drawn to Christ Jesus. Do you think He drew crowds by telling them how much his feet hurt because he walked everywhere? He didn’t have a car or a plane, y’know….Do you think they followed Him so they could hear him moan and complain about the people in charge, or the government, or how high taxes were? No, they followed Him because He uplifted them and encouraged and taught them how to live a more abundant life. In fact, in John 10:10, Jesus said, “The thief cometh not but for to kill, and to steal, and to destroy; but I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it MORE ABUNDANTLY!”

Those who followed Jesus already knew about problems, and how hard life was. Some were so poor that they were beggars and didn’t know where their next meal was coming from. Some were sick, even paralyzed or blind or deaf. Or dead. Jesus didn’t bring “oh, woe is me…” He brought HOPE, and the message that His Father in heaven had a plan to love on them, and to save them and to bless them. He preached REPENTANCE! He preached turning from your old way of thinking and doing things, and turning to obedience to the Gospel of the Kingdom of God; the GOOD NEWS!

Listen, it isn’t Good News if you can’t feed your kids. It isn’t Good News if you’re sick. It isn’t Good News if you’re depressed and worried about the future. It isn’t Good News if all you have to look forward to is getting old and dying and going to hell. No wonder so much of the world is miserable…THEY DON’T HAVE JESUS!

Getting back to the verse of the day, Proverbs 18:21, Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

Now, if you’re going to eat the fruit of your words, wouldn’t you rather they were SWEET AND GOOD? You can spend your days bad mouthing everyone and everything, or you can bless them. You can talk about how sick and tired you are of being sick and tired. OR…you can change your words to line up with God’s plan for you, because it says in Jeremiah 29:11-13,
11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

Oh, man, (or woman), let me tell you, God has a GOOD plan for your life, He already had it designed before you were ever born, to love on you and make your years on earth BLESSED, with His presence in your life every day. It’s really hard to be discouraged or depressed when you’re in a relationship with the Creator of the universe. In fact, you’d really have to WORK at it. I found out many years ago, you can be happy, or you can be miserable. God already made HIS decision, to bless you and make your life worth living. It’s the devil who is trying to convince you to use your words to make yourself and others miserable. You see, the devil isn’t happy, and he doesn’t want YOU to be happy, either! And it’s your choice which you’ll be!

I’m building on what I taught last week, about “What do you meditate upon?” Your thoughts will determine your words, and your words will determine your destiny. Your words will either reject God from your life, or your words will draw Him to be your LORD and SAVIOR. You may be thinking right now that I don’t know what I’m talking about, but I’m living my words. I’m blessed and thankful, I’m healthy and well, all my needs are met, and when I’m done in this life, I’m going to be with my LORD. All because I said so. Why? Because Jesus said in Mark 11:23-24,
23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.
24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

God’s Word is true, and there’s no arguing that fact. You have a choice whether to believe Him and enjoy the benefits, or reject Him and do the best you can on your own, and that’s going to end badly. It isn’t about “church doctrine” or “religion”, it’s about a relationship with Christ Jesus. You’re going to learn a lesson in this life whether you want to or not….your words WILL work for you, or they’ll work against you. You can’t blame the devil or anyone else how your life turns out. It will be determined by YOUR words, good or bad, life or death. Your choice. I’d suggest you choose WISELY!