I need to change my vocabulary. I’ve been under some pressure lately (I bet you have too), and at the beginning, I was managing the pressure with a fair amount of grace … or at least I think I was. By my standards I was, lol.
But over time, things can wear on a soul … right? And without my noticing, pressure gradually deflated hope like helium in a birthday balloon gradually looses its power to lift. I still felt hopeful – tired, and worn, but still hopeful for God’s promises to be fulfilled.
But then I started listening to myself.
Good News Translation
“A good person brings good out of the treasure of good things in his heart;
a bad person brings bad out of his treasure of bad things.
For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.”
(Luke 6:45)
And my mouth tattled on me!
My words revealed the condition of my heart. My words were sowing seeds of fear and worry that had begun to eat away at my confidence in the promises of God.
YIPES!
I’ve got weeds in my garden!!
Here’s an interesting thought. Did you know that you believe what you say more than you believe what anyone else says? I’m serious! Just think about it.
What you believe you speak (Luke 6:45)
What you speak you believe (Romans 10:17
I love how blogger Mel Wild of “In My Father’s House” puts it in his post entitled Who You Say I Am: “The greatest forces set against you and me are not principalities and powers but the belief systems we hold between our ears. These include arguments and everything else that exalts itself against the knowledge of God (2 Cor.10:3-5).” (I highly encourage you to read the full post!!)
Jesus explains to us in Luke 17 that faith is like a seed. Positive faith is a seed. Negative faith is a seed too. And the way you plant that seed is through your words.
“If you had faith like a seed, you would say ….” (Luke 17:6)
A closer examination of my speech revealed that I’ve actually been planting seeds of fear and doubt in my heart … and those little seeds were starting to grow and choke out my hope-filled faith.
Thankfully, I know how to uproot those weeds of fear and doubt that are growing in the garden spot of my heart … and the first step is to put a guard over my mouth and not speak of the things that I fear. Step two is to open my mouth and speak of the things desired.
If I have hope-filled faith (positive belief and expectation in the power, willingness and character of God to fulfill His promises) … like a seed (the implement by which positive or negative beliefs are planted in the garden spot of my heart/spirit) … I would say ……
Say what?
Say the thing desired.
It sounds so simple, but there is nothing “simple” about it. And it’s something I continually wrestle with.
“The greatest forces set against you and me are not principalities and powers but the belief systems we hold between our ears.”
Have you ever been surprised by the words that you heard coming out of your mouth? What did you do about it?
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All sketches and watercolors posted on this website are the sole property of the author and are for exclusive display on the website PuttingHopeToWork.com.
PuttingHopeToWork 
Yes many many times. Recently though I can listen to my thoughts first. (Not always) I hear some pretty crazy stuff in my head.
One technique I use is look at that thought, fear or whatever and make it get smaller and smaller until its not seen anymore. The newest I’ve been doing is swiping it to left of my brain and moving away from it at the same time. I’m amazed how the lord can clean up a brain like mine was. I like the garden picture…so does my daughter. She saw it and said..”is the picture about God?” Then looks closer and says yep here’s word seed…it’s about God
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Awww! My heart just melted!!!!! 💖💗💖💗💖
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She’s a little artist herself
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