Think about the last time something went wrong on a Monday morning. The coffee spilled, the kids were slow getting out the door, traffic backed up on the highway. What did you say out loud? Something like, "Of course this would happen to me," or "This day is already ruined." You probably did not think twice about it. But Scripture says those words are never neutral.
Proverbs 18:21 states, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” It’s not your circumstances, what happens to you, or any external factors that hold the power over death and life. It’s the power of your words, the actual things you say.
Your words are seeds. Every seed carries the DNA of what it will eventually grow into. Plant a word of complaint, criticism, or defeat, and you should not be surprised when that is exactly what grows in your life, your marriage, or your kids. Plant a word of faith, blessing, and truth, and that is what takes root instead.
There’s a significant distinction between a fact and the truth. A fact pertains to the current state of your circumstances, such as a low bank account, a difficult diagnosis, or a distant marriage. These are facts, and they are undeniably real. No one is asking you to deny them.
However, the truth is what God’s Word declares, regardless of the facts that may appear in this moment. Facts are subject to change, but the truth remains constant. When you repeatedly state the facts without ever acknowledging the truth, you are sowing seeds that will perpetuate that fact’s existence far beyond its necessary duration.
This same distinction between fact and truth is worth sitting with anywhere anxiety creeps in — see Your Worry Cannot Add One Day to Your Life for more on that.
Here’s where this ties back to something bigger than just better self-talk. When you’re genuinely aware of God’s presence, your words begin to change naturally. You’re not frantically trying to convince yourself of anything. Instead, you’re speaking from a place of security rather than fear. “I am who God says I am” isn’t just a slogan; it’s a natural consequence of recognizing whose presence you’re standing in.
That’s the essence of a book like Presence Driven. It’s not a call to try harder to think positively. Instead, it’s an invitation to truly walk close enough with God that your words begin to reflect His declaration of your worth.
This manifests in the seemingly insignificant, everyday sentences that we utter without a second thought.
None of this is pretending the hard thing is not hard. It is refusing to let the hard thing be the only thing you ever say about your life.
You don’t have to overhaul your communication overnight. Begin by identifying one sentence you frequently repeat, particularly about yourself, your marriage, or your children. Then, ask yourself if it’s a seed you genuinely want to nurture. If not, replace it. Instead of merely expressing your current feelings, strive to communicate what you genuinely want to see.
Your tongue is not just describing your life. It is shaping it. That is not a self help trick. That is Scripture.
If this concept is new to you or you’re eager to delve deeper into the daily experience of living in God’s presence, I’d be delighted to offer you a complimentary copy of my ebook, "Presence Driven".
Remember..."The Word Will Work, If You Work the Word."
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