Open Your Big, Bold, Beautiful Mouth

Words—Your Life’s Instrument

So why are our words so important? What wisdom will we explore together in this book? 

In the Bible, God specifically tells us, “Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit—you choose” (Prov. 18:21 MSG). That’s God’s blunt, frank, and indispensable wisdom for each of us.

Life or death, encouragement or discouragement, bright light or dark clouds, words—our words—determine the outcome. Help or hurt, blessing or curse, building up or tearing down, through words—our words—we decide the result. The words we speak sit at the center of all we do. They propel our journey and steer our course. They shape our life and the lives of those around us.

In a dramatic and echoing perspective on the impact of our words, poet Pearl Strachen Hurd said, “Handle them carefully, for words have more power than atom bombs!”

Hurd’s comparison and cautionary advice are biblically spot on. Our words, like atom bombs, have a devastating impact and critical consequences on every level—spiritually, intellectually, emotionally, and physically. No quality or dimension of life remains untouched by them. For good or for bad, their shock waves stretch far and wide, beyond what even our eyes can see.

Concerning their importance, God told us that he used words to create our universe and everything in it. “By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible” (Heb. 11:3).

To create it all, God opened his mouth and said something—and what he said came to be. His invisible words created the visible, the tangible, the monumental.

Like God, we were designed to be a people of words. In his own image and likeness, God fashioned us this way—as speakers, authors, and articulators on the earth. Words are his gift to us, our instrument for creating, building, and shaping all that is around us.

As we study and begin to understand the significance of our words and their consequences, the question for each of us to answer becomes this: What are we doing with the gift of our words?

Are we using our words to advance our life or limit it? Support our goals or undermine them? Help or hurt others?

If we’re not succeeding and achieving our goals, we need to examine what we’re saying. If we’re losing ground or struggling in certain areas, we need to look at the words we routinely broadcast. If we’re floundering rather than flourishing in our homes, jobs, and personal relationships, we, most likely, need to change our words to change the result.

Words—Giving Voice to Your Faith

These same questions must be asked and answered in our spiritual life as well. What words are we speaking? Are we expressing words of faith in God and Jesus Christ or words of doubt? Are we declaring the divine blessings they specifically promised to each of us or are we saying something else?

In this book, we will learn that the Christian life of faith was designed by God to be a life of vibrant, outward expression. From our heart and willing mouth, God has asked us to express our trust in him and our belief in all his promises. These words of faith will change our circumstances and bring us countless blessings. These words will lift us out of problems and get us past every concern.

Of all the words we will ever speak, the words of faith are the most powerful, dynamic, and life changing.

Through numerous Scripture passages, multiple examples, and various vantage points, we will learn about these faith-filled words. We will learn that what we believe on the inside—in our heart—must be expressed on the outside in order to secure the results we desire.

We will explore the vital connection between our heart and our mouth and learn how they work together, one internalizing God’s promises and the other externalizing them—and together grabbing hold of God’s blessings for our life.

In every detail, God has a plan and a purpose for us to succeed. We have his word on it. In fact, through the great work that is the Bible, he’s given us hundreds and hundreds of his promises to trust and believe. But to experience the fullness of these promises, we must say something. We must give a voice to our faith. Through our words as well as our deeds, we must put our faith into action.
 

Words—Your Heavenly Pronouncements

In this book, we will learn about another distinguishing feature of our words and faith. We will learn that every Christian has been given the right to speak on behalf of God and Jesus Christ and pronounce heaven’s blessings on the earth.

The specific term for this right is “authority.” We’ve been given authority by God and Christ to speak as their agents, with the full force and unlimited resources of their kingdom supporting our words.

For Christians, heavenly authority unlocks a world of new insights and opportunities. It represents our right to declare victorious outcomes for our life, family, and community. It represents our right to command obstacles and problems to move aside. It signifies our ability to speak the words “God bless you!” and to have God respond to our pronouncement with his incomparable blessings.

I hope you’re excited to learn. When you begin to understand your authority to speak on behalf of God and Christ and to issue specific commands and pronouncements backed by their power and might, your speech will never be the same. This understanding will impact what you say and how you say it.

Words—Expressing Your Gratitude

In this book, we will explore one other important group of faith-filled words. We will examine the words of gratitude—our words of thanks and praise to God. We will learn how valuable these words are to him and how vital these words are for our life.

Our words of thanks and praise accomplish so much. They generously give back to God. They support our faith life. They even usher in more of heaven’s blessings for our lives.

In many rich and rewarding ways, these words open up a vast channel of expression, one that allows us to voice every promise and provision of our Christian heritage.

Once you learn about these words, I’m certain you will add them to your spiritual vocabulary. I know these words of gratitude will transform your life forever. Never again will you look at your life or your circumstances as you did before.