Introduction
In life, the power of spoken words can either make or mar a person. Research has shown that “spoken words impact behavior, shaping emotions, decisions, and actions through brain processes. Positive language can stimulate brain areas associated with motivation and dedication, while negative language can trigger brain areas that produce fear and induce stress.”
Power of Words
The spoken sound produces sound waves that cause a motion in the particles of the particular medium in which the sound is made. The movement in these particles already indicates that a reaction occurs when sound is produced through words.
We have seen instances where hurtful words have been amplified in the ears of the listener through the brain to produce a negative feeling that has influenced subsequent actions by that individual in response to those words.
There is ample evidence in history that also showcases the power of the spoken word. For instance, we know that dictators with oratory skills have been able to create mass hysteria that has led to mob actions, riots, rebellions, and wars. On the flip side, freedom fighters have been able to produce similar effects that have led to revolutions.
In each case, the ear amplifies the message, the brain analyzes and disseminates it, and the various body particles react in response to the neural message received.
We hear of persons who have been subjected to constant verbal abuse developing low self-esteem. Others who might have been affirmed consistently over the same period end up manifesting the healthy dose of self-confidence required to function optimally in the social sphere.
Words in the Spiritual Realm
In the spiritual realm, it is not different; words are a means of communicating. Communication is a two-way process comprising the words spoken and the feedback received.
Every spoken word is expected to bring back a result. For instance, a greeting expects a return greeting, an instruction is expected to elicit a response that is either verbal or non-verbal, while a command results in a commensurate action from the listeners in response to that.
Consequently, the bible clearly states that the power of life or death lies in the tongue (Proverbs 18:21).
Let us look at the illustration below;
“Our bones are dried up and our hope is lost; we are completely cut off”,
says the House of Israel, according to the Lord in the book of Ezekiel in chapter 37.
This was a statement made by a people whose hearts had grown weary from adversity brought on by their disobedience to God. The result? Dry bones.
What was spoken within their hearts and with their mouths produced a result in their physical circumstance.
These words were spoken out loud in despair, but the words activated the reactive force behind spoken words to craft a physical reality that reflected what was being expressed.
In their mind's eye, they saw their bones dried up, and in the spiritual, it was. For Israel to live well in the natural, they had to be alive and well, in the spiritual.
This was the circumstance of the nation of Israel in the time of Ezekiel. The prophet could never have imagined that these dry bones were the nation of Israel and their condition was brought about by a self-fulfilling prophecy: their words.
Many of us activate limitations in our lives by making negative, self-defeating pronouncements. In the case of Israel, God was on a rescue mission and needed an Israeli to reverse these less-than-prosperous utterances.
Ezekiel was first asked by God if these bones could still come to life, but he believed that only God knew if that was possible or not. Under God’s directive, he learnt to group and couple the bones together, add sinews, add flesh, and put breath into the dry bones through the power of the tongue. He learnt how to bring up the bones to become an exceedingly great army.
Note that God did not reverse the death process initiated by the house of Israel but instead looked for a human being to do it. The Lord has given the responsibility for the earth and all its affairs to man, whom He has empowered with the authority to bind the forces of darkness and to loose the power of God on earth through the use of the tongue.
There is an inherent power in the spoken word of man. In the tongue is the power of life and death: the power to activate fear or faith.
The Implication of Words
In our illustration, we can see that an individual can wield life-changing power in the spiritual realm that can lead to phenomenal changes in the physical. Ezekiel, under God’s tutelage, was able to raise an exceeding great army from dry bones that were in the valley.
When a spoken word addresses situations in the spiritual, the manifestation of the outcome is usually in the physical. This is why you are advised to watch your language and control your tongue, because you might just get what you spoke about.
Just like the Israelites in our story, you can be a victim of self-fulfilling prophecies, unwittingly spoken with your mouth. Remember, every spoken word must bring back results, so be careful what you say.
The bible is very particular about the quality of the words you speak, and this is why it is written in the New Testament that you will give an account of every word spoken.
As the world was formed and framed by the spoken word of God, so also can you frame your life and destiny by speaking what you would like to see in it. Therefore, always prophesy blessings over your life and that of your children. Your tongue is a means of exercising control over your circumstances. No matter what your eyes see, always state what your life needs. Never affirm negative circumstances by speaking words that align with them, but rather, in faith, speak with confidence and authority about what you want to see happen.
Action Point
I had my children under harrowing circumstances, especially my first child. The medical complications were near-fatal. I needed surgical intervention and blood transfusions in all cases. My children were born through cesarean sections, and each birth had its own tale and testimony. Not to mention other challenges we have faced on this journey of life.
During all the challenges we faced, I resisted the urge to just huddle up and cry in frustration, but kept on declaring life in all those situations. While this appears difficult at first, it becomes easier as you go along and make it a way of life. Also, do not allow others to speak ‘negatives’ into your life.
At times, people mean well but unintentionally make harmful comments. Such comments, no matter how well-meant, must be rejected on the spot in Jesus' name, while you immediately counter any unlikely outcomes by making positive comments of your own.
For instance, someone might in sympathy say, “Oh, your illness is wearing you out”. For a start, it is not your illness; secondly, not saying anything means that you are consenting to the fact that the illness is having the upper hand, which should not be because “by the stripes of Jesus you are healed”, even if it is not immediately visible in the physical.
Conclusion
Aligning your speech with what God says makes you a candidate for supernatural intervention and the recipient of a positive turnaround in your circumstances. Never let the book of this law - the bible- depart from your mouth (Joshua 1:8 paraphrased). Meditate on it day and night, and use it as a reference in all situations, and you will surely overcome.
Share with me a situation you turned around or could have turned around with the power of your words.
Please share this message widely with others you know will benefit.
Do you have questions, need counseling, or would you like prayers? Please let me know in the comments section below.
No comments:
Post a Comment