Before You Speak

Where do we draw from to get the statements that we speak? That is easy, our thoughts. As our thoughts accumulate, we form a mindset. It is your way of thinking or frame of mind.

Changing our mindset is how we achieve improved results in our speech. When we change the way we think, we can change the way we speak, and it is then that we will see things change in our lives. The way we begin to do that is to change our way of thinking and talking in everyday situations. Once we learn to do that, when difficult times arise, we are prepared and know what approach to take. We have to get rid of the old way of thinking. Let us fully make the change and embrace a new way of thinking.

Luke 5:37 gives a great illustration of how the old and new do not work well together. The Message version says “No one cuts up a fine silk scarf to patch old work clothes; you want the fabrics to match. And you don’t put wine in old, cracked bottles; you get strong, clean bottles for your fresh vintage wine. And no one who has ever tasted fine aged wine prefers unaged wine.”

Jesus explains to a group of staunch, pretentious religious leaders called Pharisees, that old and new do not go well together. It is impossible to remain in one state of mind and change it at the same time. When we look at James 3:10, it says “my dear friends, with our tongues we speak both praises and curses. We praise our Lord and Father, and we curse people who were created to be like God, and this is not right.”

“A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.”

James 1:8

We cannot just decree God’s Word and our desires into the atmosphere without a different or renewed mindset. We must trust in God’s Word and have faith, believing that it will come to pass. God’s Word says the promise is received by faith. His Word is the promise that we must have faith in. We have to rid ourselves of any and all thoughts contrary to that.

“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”

2 Corinthians 10:5

It is time out for negative thinking. There are many things that we face and temptations that come our way, but we have a choice. If we do not capture these thoughts we will give them authority in our lives. Only God’s Word is supposed to reign supreme, if we allow. We have a will.

We have to be determined to believe the report of the Lord no matter what anyone has to say. We are the head and not the tail, above only and not beneath, the lender and not the borrower. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.

Greater is He that is within us than he that is in the world. We have to boldly speak His Word. Our thoughts have to be focused on better things.

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

Philippians 4:8

Paul makes it so simple; we have to program our minds with better things. The things that we think on tend to determine what we say. Impure, false, lying, hateful, and negative reports cannot yield progressive thinking. There has to be some good seeds planted into our minds in order for the fruits of good speech to grow.

It is not enough to just hear one good thought or speak one positive word; we have to make them a constant meditation. God’s Word is filled with great promises and blessings that He has for us.

We are to meditate on God’s Word day and night according to Joshua 1:8. As we rehearse it, it becomes a part of us and we exude the Word of God in every area. The more we allow His Word to shape our thoughts we cannot help but speak like God as well.

Sometimes circumstances may seem to be ill-timed or even bad. Things are not always what they seem, and they do not have to be. We have the power to change these situations with our words.

I can remember a time when we lived in a 2-bedroom apartment. We had been playing catch up from my husband being laid off. I was a stay at home mom with 3 young children and little to no transportation. The space was overcrowded to say the least. As you could imagine the walls started closing in on me. If that were not enough, we received an eviction notice.

The previous managers knew our situation and were working with us to pay off the debt. Our complex came under new management. We had to pay what we owed within 60 days and move. These new people did not know us or care about our situation or previous arrangement. Now the new dilemma was figuring out what to do. If we paid the money, we would not have anything left to move.

My husband was in a new job so we didn’t have a lot of income. On top of that I was not working. If I did work I would have to pay for daycare for 3 children under the age of 5. I whined and complained for a day or so. My negative words made me more discouraged.

One day I just cried out to God in frustration. I was searching for answers and a strategy. It was when I started speaking of God’s words that I saw results.