Overcoming Contrary Declarations

The overflow of deceptive thinking and believing can easily funnel into what you declare about anything, yourself or someone else. If you continue to believe deceptive thinking—the lies—at some point they’re easily transferred to personal declarations. This is why it’s important to watch our personal declarations.

Your words are containers of power. You can speak life, death, good fortune or loss. It’s important to watch our words. As Proverbs 18:20-21 NASB says, “²⁰ With the fruit of a man’s mouth his stomach will be satisfied; He will be satisfied with the product of his lips. ²¹ Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” Don’t declare death or damnation by your words.

Need a little more proof? Proverbs 12:13-14 NASB gives these words of wisdom: “¹³ An evil man is ensnared by the transgression of his lips, But the righteous will escape from trouble. ¹⁴ A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his words…”

Another thought from Solomon in Proverbs 21:23 NASB, we find “He who guards his mouth and his tongue, Guards his soul from troubles.” This should be our go-to verse when deciding what to say in various situations, including talking to yourself. Put a guard on your mouth, over your tongue. Guard what comes out of your mouth because once you’ve declared a thing, it is spoken and can’t be taken back. (Even ‘I’m sorry’ in the heat of an argument can’t erase what was said).

So how should we speak then? Paul gave the Colossian believers great wisdom and it applies to us. Colossians 4:6, ESV, “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” Let’s get our thinking established in God’s grace and love. Then our words will be gracious words, not words of hate, bitterness, ugliness, or revengeful. It all starts with our thinking which influences our believing, and then we speak it forth—into the world.

If we were out in space where we could hear everything that was ever said from the beginning of time, what do you think you’d hear? Do you think you’d hear words of love, peace, joy, or grace? I have a feeling the words of hatred, bitterness, and selfishness and lies would yell across the expanse of the universe.

TRUTH: Let’s change our own negative personal declarations because that isn’t how God thinks or speaks of us. God continues to speak encouragement and hope through His Word. It needs to begin in us. Let’s align our words to His.

You can overcome contrary declarations with the power of God’s Word. You can change all contrary declarations you’ve personally voiced by changing and speaking life-giving words, grace filled words. The results will be evident in your own life and as it filters down to others, influencing their thoughts and speech.

APPLICATION: The more you line up your speech, your thinking, your believing with the Word, and God’s love, the more you’ll speak healthy, wholesome words—both to others and to yourself. You CAN overcome contrary declarations.

We’ll look into this topic more in the next study. In the meantime, you can meditate and plant these scriptures in your thinking and in your heart. As you make changes, you’ll find the power of God’s Word more evident in your own life.

Proverbs 18:20-21 NASB – “²⁰ With the fruit of a man’s mouth his stomach will be satisfied; He will be satisfied with the product of his lips. ²¹ Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”

Make It Personal: I will choose to watch and change my words to speak life, not condemnation or death.

Proverbs 12:13-14 NASB – “¹³ An evil man is ensnared by the transgression of his lips, But the righteous will escape from trouble. ¹⁴ A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his words…”

Make It Personal: I will not be snared by bad words, but I determine to speak good, life-giving words that will satisfy me and others.

Proverbs 21:23 NASB – “He who guards his mouth and his tongue, Guards his soul from troubles.”

Make It Personal: I will guard both my thinking and my mouth.

Colossians 4:6, ESV – “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”

Make It Personal: I will speak with gracious words to others that minister life and not death.

ASK YOURSELF

How are you guarding your thinking and your mouth?

In what ways are you learning to speak words of life and not death?

What gracious words have you added to your speech?