The Empowerment Of Words Most of us have lived long enough to figure out that life comes all-inclusive with setbacks, disasters and traumatic experiences. John 16:33 “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” We need to recognize and implement the empowerment of the Holy Spirit to change our meditation and conversations. The events and seasons of trial and discouragement have the potential to delay or derail God’s good plan for our lives. Psalms 44:21 . He knows the secrets of the heart. Luke 12:3 “Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops. Luke 8:17 “For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light. There is not a conversation spoken or a word uttered that goes unheard by God. When you have the right internal conversations they will lead to speaking the right conclusions. Joshua 1:8 “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Proverbs 4:23 Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life. Words can become our reality. Here are some facts about words Words Proverbs 13:3 He who guards his mouth preserves his life, But he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction. The quality of your life is directly connected to the content of your conversations. Words are a continual choice with an inevitable consequence. Proverbs 6:2 You are snared by the words of your mouth; You are taken by the words of your mouth. Words and Proverbs 18:21 (NKJV) Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:21 (MSG) Life and death are in the power of the tongue. Words kill, words give life; they're either poison or fruit—you choose. Words lead to a Matthew 12:36-37 (NKJV) 36 “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. 37 “For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” Matthew 12:36-37 (MSG) “Let me tell you something: Every one of these careless words is going to come back to haunt you. There will be a time of Reckoning. Words are powerful; take them seriously. Words can be your salvation. Words can also be your damnation.” Your thoughts become words which become actions which become habits which create your character and character sets your destiny. Words and Proverbs 15:1-4 1 A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger. 2 The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness. 3 The eyes of the LORD are in every place, Keeping watch on the evil and the good. 4 A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, But perverseness in it breaks the spirit. Proverbs 12:18 There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, But the tongue of the wise promotes health. Proverbs 26:18-19 18 Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death, 19 Is the man who deceives his neighbor, And says, “I was only joking!” Ephesians 4:29-32 29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 5:6 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them. Our words are writing our ! Mark 4:24 Then He said to them, “Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given. We must be careful what we hear in our self talk. 1 Samuel 30:3-6 3 So David and his men came to the city, and there it was, burned with fire; and their wives, their sons, and their daughters had been taken captive. 4 Then David and the people who were with him lifted up their voices and wept, until they had no more power to weep. 5 And David’s two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite, had been taken captive. 6 Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God. 3 Practices for the Road to Recovery “Speak to your Soul” Have an inner conversation that results in a confession. Psalm 103:1-5 1 Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! 2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: 3 Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, 4 Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, 5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. Psalm 42:5-6 Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him For the help of His countenance. 6 O my God, my soul is cast down within me; Therefore I will remember You from the land of the Jordan, And from the heights of Hermon, From the Hill Mizar. Philippians 4:8-9 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. What you meditate on will become your conversation. “What you continually speak to your soul becomes a conclusion that results in a confession and conversation that leads you to action!” Remember and Recount the Faithfulness of God Psalm 143:3-6 (MSG) The enemy hunted me down; he kicked me and stomped me within an inch of my life. He put me in a black hole, buried me like a corpse in that dungeon. I sat there in despair, my spirit draining away, my heart heavy, like lead. Then, I remembered the old days, I went over all you've done, pondered the ways you've worked. Psalms 103:1-2 1 Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! 2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Remember and recount how many times God has brought you through things. Speak the faithfulness of God out loud. Make a decision to worship and declare God’s faithfulness in your life! Worship is not an emotional response to a song. Worship is a decision to bless the Lord. Psalm 34:1-3 1 I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. 2 My soul shall make its boast in the LORD; The humble shall hear of it and be glad. 3 Oh, magnify the LORD with me, And let us exalt His name together. 4 I sought the LORD, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears. Psalm 18:1-3 1 I will love You, O LORD, my strength. 2 The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. 3 I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies. Joel 3:10 Let the weak say, ‘I am strong.’ ” Psalms 116:10 I believed, therefore I spoke, Romans 4:17 (as it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations”) in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did; Believe it and speak it! This is a decision, not an ! 1 Samuel 30:18 So David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away, and David rescued his two wives. Be careful what you let in your . John 10:27 “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 2 Timothy 2:16-18 16 But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. 17 And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, 18 who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some. Ephesians 5:6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Deuteronomy 30:19 “I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;