Word of the Day
Beloved, in light of the life within you…in light of who lives in you, don’t be so eager to speak the negative things you see and feel. Life and death are in the power of the tongue and negative talk, no matter how innocent it seems, can rain on even the greatest Fourth of July parade (Proverbs 18:20-21).
In other words, don’t let negative, destructive words dampen or even destroy the light you are determined to walk in. It is cutting off your own nose to spite your face in some respects. All the time invested in receiving the Word in your spirit and coming into agreement can be undone by repetitive wrong thinking and speaking. Instead, renew your mind and release the light of My presence in you till victory is achieved in the weak areas of your flesh.
You know from your own experiences and those of others, negative words come to pass. Why not have the same faith to believe; knowing that as you speak My Word it also comes to pass without sorrow. If you really, really believe your words have power, My child, how should you speak from this day forward? Would you change your speech? You can’t change the outside or your thought life without changing what you put into it. Renew your mind and come into agreement with Me (Romans 12:2). I work in you to will and do My good pleasure (Philippians 2:13, Hebrews 13:20-22).
Know this, I am in you to redeem and restore you from your past… to live ever near in your present and preside over your future as I fill it with hope. I am in you to release My life and My light through you by the power of My Word as it is activated in your believing heart. Quiet yourself and hear My still, small voice rise from the power packed capsule of your spirit and believe…and agree that you might see. Light is shattering the darkness and you are being illumined by Me. I illumine your darkness and every negative, unbelieving word and action you let go of makes room for more light to be expressed (Psalms 18:28). No bushel, doubt, unbelief or the past will be allowed to cover your light. I have called you the light of the world. So, let your light shine and glorify My name.
You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a peck measure, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light so shine before men that they may see] moral excellence and your praiseworthy, noble, and good deeds and recognize and honor and praise and glorify your Father Who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16 Amplified)
For You cause my lamp to be lighted and to shine; the Lord my God illumines my darkness (Psalms 18:28 Amplified)
Prayer
Lord, You are the redeemer of all things. You are the light of my present life and the one to come. In you there is neither darkness nor shadow of turning. Steadfastness and goodness cover me like a warm blanket on a cold day. I am secure in You and the promises You have made in Your Word. Therefore, I will choose to keep a guard over my lips that they might speak only kindness. If my lips for a moment cannot speak kindness, I will keep myself silent, least I speak death. I only want to eat the fruit of life born out of righteous and upright speech.
Please show me any blind spots…any place where I repetitively fall into the same trap of negative speaking. Heal any soul wounds which make me defensive and unkind in order to protect myself. Heal me and I will be healed. Speak words of restoration to any bitter place in me and my fountain will be sweet. I forgive all who have spoken death over me…over the way my personality expresses itself…over how I handle things like mothering, fathering, career, or any other task given to me.
Lord, I choose to change my speech no matter what the speech of others may be. I am responsible before You and You alone. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight at all times. If this is so, then I will have walked uprightly with others regardless of what they think or how they perceive me. I rejoice in Your restorative work in my life as I experience Your ever-present love and grace each and every moment. I anticipate my future with great delight for the Spirit of the Lord is upon me to share the good news…to share life and not death with the words I speak. Because You are in me, I am indeed a light in this world and do let my light shine to glorify Your name. Amen
Reflect and Journal
- Do you remember what it is like for someone to rain on your parade? How did you handle it? Did the negative experience make you more careful how you respond to a parade in someone else’s life or did it make you less inclined to rejoice in another’s good fortune?
- In what ways or what areas have you let the words of others hold you back or stop you from stepping out and taking a risk when it comes to the things you feel the Lord has called you to do? In other words, has your self-confidence been based on what others think or what I say and think? Just because someone thinks something ill of you doesn’t mean it is true. Often people can be cruel or just ignorant when it comes to assessing the life of another. Go to the Lord and find out what He thinks. Let Him have the final definitive say about who you are and what you are to do. The Word is clear. You are the apple of His eye.
- Do you have a thought life in need of some change? Do your thoughts run rampant in some area or another causing you to worry too much, to be angry or shout at others…cause you to talk down to yourself or others, to eat too much, to spend too much or any other weakness of the flesh? Take the area of struggle and renew your mind by agreeing with God about who He says you are in that particular area. Use the Scripture to speak strength to the weak places where you tend to give in time after time. Trust Him. He has a lot move invested in your success than He does. Your spirit is perfect and He sees you in Jesus. This should free you to know your struggles can never change your place in Him. Surrender your thoughts to the heartbeat of His Word and be changed.
- Contemplate the Word of God being activated to fulfill its purpose as you embrace it with a believing heart.
- Take a moment to write a note affirming our faith in Him who is able, thanking Him for abiding in you with ever-lasting light.