In the beginning... words!

The most famous book ever inspired or written begins by explaining how everything that was, and is, and is to come began with a word. God spoke. It was the word of God and it was spoken into all of creation. (Genesis 1:3-30)

Words have power, words have meaning. In James 3:6 it says, "The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire." And, the Bible also says in Proverbs 18:21, "The tongue has the power of life and death."

Often we hear motivational speakers and gurus emphasizing the importance of speaking positively about our situations and experiences and they have a valid point. They understand there is power in our words and we should be careful when and how we speak. But this understanding wasn't created by Brian Tracy or Tony Robbins or the countless others that came before them. This is a Godly principle and one we need to pay much closer attention.

Anyone in any relationship can attest to the fact that words can cut deep. In Hebrews 4:12 it says, "For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires."

Have you ever had words cut you so deep it felt as if they separated your soul from your spirit, your bones from their marrow? Probably.

Yes, words have meanings and power and they can speak hope and despair, fear and courage, life and death. We live in a society that is growing increasingly more politically correct. It seems as if we're all too aware that our words have meanings... to the point that we're unwilling to be authentic. For example, recently our Secretary of Homeland Security refused to use the word "terrorism" and instead now refers to it as "Man-Caused Disasters."

I'm bringing all of this up because we have reached a place where we're so self-conscious about how we speak to each other that we often never consider how we speak to ourselves every day. What kind of words are we imparting into our own lives? Think about it. How many times have we doubted that we could accomplish the task at hand? We say we're too ugly, too fat, too skinny, too dumb, too loud, too shy, too this and too that. We fill our lives with limiting beliefs that inhibits our behavior, prevents our potential and in essence criticizes the God that created us.

Now consider what we would hear if instead of talking, we just listened to what the Creator of the universe (who spoke the world into existence) was saying about us... to us? Would He speak life or death? The question is obviously rhetorical as the Bible is absolutely clear about what God DOES speak into our lives. My favorite verse in all of the Bible is Jeremiah 29:11 where it says, "For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." Or, in Genesis where it all began in chapter 1, verse 27 where God says He created us in His image. That's pretty optimistic, hopeful, courageous and empowering.

Be conscious about the words you're speaking into your life every day. Our words are typically a symptom of our life experiences and the meanings we have attached to them. Many of us have experienced tough times and heard tough words that have shaped us from an early age with regard to what we believe we can achieve. All the while we minimize the God that created the universe and we block our ability to fully trust that God is in control and through Him all things are possible.

Here is how it works. Your life experiences create belief systems that create behaviors that create outcomes and results. Since you cannot go back in time and re-write history, you have to learn how to re-write the meanings you've attached to those experiences and begin establishing NEW belief systems based on eternal truth, not circumstantial situations. What meaning will you choose to attach to your life experiences?

The solution is to break the bad habit of living through limiting beliefs and begin living more abundantly through Christ. It starts with establishing new patterns in your life. Speak to yourself the way God speaks to you through His Word.

Here is a little hint to begin establishing new belief systems, new words, new behaviors and new outcomes and results. Since this requires actually "doing" something I refer to it as the A.C.T.S. Of Taking Massive Action.

Start your day with a simple prayer. (Borrowed this from my Pastor in Nashville, Mike Glenn of Brentwood Baptist Church)

A. Affirm - I tell the Lord who I believe He is... I affirm who He is in my life.
C. Confess - I confess the things in my life that I need to repent for and turn away from.
T. Thanksgiving - I thank God for what He has provided me
S. Supplication - I ask God to help me... specifically, in detail.

Lately I have received a great deal of questions regarding the power of words and linguistics and while I'm not always comfortable sharing some of the intimate details of how I sometimes pray or the goofy things I do, I hope you find some solace in knowing that you're not alone in feeling hopeless, outgunned, overwhelmed, under-skilled or inadequate sometimes. Just know that God loves to use the foolish to confound the wise. And, most importantly, God is faithful and wants you to be restored, completely. Talk with God and listen intently to the words He speaks into your life... to give you a future and a hope.

Be amazing today!