“The tongue has the power of life and death..” (Proverbs 18:21)
The spoken word is one of the most powerful tool the Lord left to his disciples, and clearly of benefit to us even in the present dispensation. It is a gift neither of us should slacken at using.
After he was called to go out and liberate the Israelites, while he hesitated, “God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you” ( Exodus 3:14).
After getting to the tomb of Lazurus, having prayed, “Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face” ( John 11: 43-44). Once Peter and John met a beggar at the temple courts who asked for money, but Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk” ( Acts 3:6).
Almost similar, once Paul and Silas were going up for prayers when they were accosted by a female girl who kept badgering them, “Finally Paul became so annoyed that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment the spirit left her” ( Acts 16:18).
The point of interest for us here is the power of the spoken word. The Almighty God sends out his servant Moses with his word, even rebuking Moses where he hesitates, “And the LORD said to Moses, “Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward” ( Exodus 14: 15). When he came across a fig tree that bore no fruit, Jesus, “ said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it” (Mark 11:14).
All here is to point out we should never ignore the power of the spoken word. The spoken word has the power of life and death. Creation, after all, starts with the spoken word: “And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light” (Genesis 1:3).
In our lives we have this gift of using the spoken word to speak to any situation. The spoken word has power of “life and death!” Why not therefore use it when you encounter whatever situation. For the words we speak do not just go out in a void, but with them is the power, even to bring the dead back to life, shrivel any tormenting spirit, curse any demonic power and bless us mightily!
Prayer today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, you have given us the power of the spoken word, which today I pray I may never hesitate to use to address any situation, in the mighty name of Jesus, I pray!
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17/05/2024 - 18/05/2024 All day“And I in righteousness I shall see your face; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with seeing your likeness” (Psalm 17:15)
One of the defining aspects we see in the life of the Lord Jesus Christ is that He began the day with prayer. “Very early in the morning while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed” (Mark 1:35). As he was always surrounded by crowds and after such a busy day before of preaching and engaging the Pharisees in debates this must have been a therapeutic moment for Christ when he would have some good time to himself.
But there was also more. For Jesus being away in a secluded place would also mean a chance to pour out His heart to God, meditate in quietness, plan for the day ahead and listen to the Father. Jesus must have looked up to this moment every day knowing its benefits. Conversations with His Father must have been real and intimate, bringing a certain soothing and uplifting of His spirit. You do not wake up and stick to something on a daily basis that is a drag – this must have been his best time of the day!
Martin Luther the leader of the protestant reformation is reputed to once have said, “I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.” Here is the point. In the olden days before the arrival of locomotive transport those who were setting out for a long journey on foot had to start early with the first cock crow before the punishing sun came out. One of the things they had to start with also was a good meal, which was fuel needed to give them energy through the long walk to their destiny.
There are no rules about waking up to pray as first thing- or even saying prayer at a defined hour of the day. God is everywhere and ever with us. He is accessible at any time of the day. But there is something special about prioritizing our lives that the first thing we do is to talk to God. Just like the early traveller we need fuel, for the long day ahead!
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, what a joy and privilege to make time at the start of any day, talk and hear from you, for the power I need through the day, this I pray in Jesus’ name!
