Prophesy to the Bones

Last night as I was preparing dinner, I turned on Joyce Meyer (I took a mini break from watching the Olympics because they were doing re-plays). About a year or so ago, I became a huge Joyce Meyer fan. For so long, I refused to watch her because what I had seen of her made me think she was harsh and critical. Once I actually sat down and watched her teach, I knew I was wrong. She is an awesome teacher of the Word. I respect her so much and can relate to her because I feel like I sometimes deal with the same struggles she has overcome.

Last night's lesson was one of the best I've heard from her. It was a powerful lesson on what God can do in my life. I'll share just a couple of the things she said because I can't remember all of it.

She was talking about how many people pray to God to change their circumstances but they never speak any life over themselves. They pray for God to help them financially, with their families, to be healed, better jobs, etc, but after they're done praying, they say stuff like, "Oh, I'll always be sick." Or, "I'll never be able to eat anything but hamburgers. I'll never be able to afford to buy steaks." She said that when you do that, not even God can help you because you keep talking Him out of it. You have NO faith! She said that she's not a "name it claim it" person (which I really respect). She said she thinks that's weird and doesn't believe in that (and gave examples of people doing that sort of thing); however, she said what you speak determines so much. She gave these examples from the Bible:

She used Romans 4 and the story of how Abraham came to be the father of many nations. She taught of how he was told, when it seemed impossible, that he would be the father of many nations...when he had NO children. Romans 4:17 says, "As it is written: "I have made you a father of many nations." he is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed-the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were.

The highlighted verse is one that she directly pointed out. God called this into Abraham's life. It had not happened yet, but it was called into his life as if it had already happened. We must do the same! If you want to be healthy, don't walk around always talking about how sick you are! Speak words of life and words of health over yourself. If you want to be more stable financially, don't walk around talking about how it will never happen!

Joyce also quoted this amazing story from scripture as an example of the power of words:
Ezekiel 37:1-9: The hand of the Lord was upon me, and He brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. he asked me, "Son of man, can these bones live?"
I said, "O Sovereign Lord, you alone know.
Then He said to me, "Prophesy to these bones and say to them, 'Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord!' This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord."
So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them.
Then He said to me, "Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, 'This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe into these slain, that they may live.'" So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet-a vast army.

The Lord told him to "prophesy over the bones"; to speak life over them. Joyce said that if he could raise a dead army with the power of his words, we can certainly speak life and God's Word over our bodies and our circumstances! We don't have to settle for mediocre lives. So why do we? Why do I? Why do I continue to see the worst and expect it to always be that way? Today I am going to go the other route. I am going to speak words of life over myself, my family, my friends, our circumstances... I am going to trust God and believe that He can and will do what He says He can do.

Today Joyce is doing part two of this amazing lesson. To watch yesterday's lesson (because she explains it WAY WAY better than I just did), click the link:

Your Words and Your Future- Pt 1- Viewer's Choice #1

Your Words and Your Future- Pt 2- Viewer's Choice #1

After watching yesterday's lesson, I know why this is the #1 viewer's choice. It's really really great! I strongly encourage you to watch these lessons, especially if you struggle at all with the words you speak and the expectations you have of your life. It will take 20 minutes of your life (each lesson) but will give you so much more!!!

The Power of Words

As I continue on in my Proverbs study, I am being enlightened day by day. Sure, I know many of these proverbs, but to actually sit down and meditate on them really gives me fresh perspective. This week is going to be a really powerful one for me. This week's study deals a lot with the tongue and words spoken; a great area of struggle for me.

As long as I can remember, I have used my words carelessly. I say a lot of negative things. I say things meant in jest that could potentially hurt feelings. Proverbs 18:21 says, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue." DEATH and LIFE. What more do I need to know? The words I speak bring DEATH and LIFE. Seriously. That kind of puts things in perspective. If you're like me, you have heard the debate over this verse. Some teachers of the Word say that it means hurt feelings, while others say the words you speak can bring literal death. There are those that teach that your words have the power to make things happen, just as Jesus' words caused the fig tree to wither. I am not going to get into that debate. Rather, I am going to make this point. Our words have the potential to kill someone...emotionally, spiritually, and that can lead to physical death as well. Think about it. Think about a time that someone said something that just crushed you, something that caused such inexplicable pain. Think of the death you felt on the inside. Think of those who have committed suicide because of things said to them. Words do have the power of life and death.

Today I read Proverbs 12:18. It says, "Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing." I'm sure we could all attest to this. We have all had reckless words pierce our hearts, literally take our breath away. Sometimes the words spoken to us were spoken without the intention to hurt, but they hurt anyway. Now let's examine ourselves. When have we used reckless words? Think about times you may have hurt someone by your loose tongue. Maybe you don't struggle with this at all, but I surely do. I use reckless words every day. How awful is that? Sometimes these words are directed at my husband, my kids, friends, patients, the check out lady at Target. Many times, I speak careless words, words that I don't intend to cause harm but do anyway. Prime example, Tristan, you're driving me crazy! RECKLESS! If I have to do this one more time, I'm going to run away! RECKLESS.

James 3:8 says that "No man can tame the tongue." No man. Not you, not me. It is up to us to ask God for help. It is up to us to focus on the positive because out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks (Luke 6:45). Like David, we should pray, "Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips (Psalm 141:3).

This may have totally bored you. You may not struggle with this at all. If you do, though, you're not alone. I have close friends who are struggling right beside me with this (we're praying for each other on this. I'm not trying to give someone a hint about themselves ;)). It is SO hard to tame the tongue!

Lord, I humbly come before you and ask you to set a guard over my mouth. Please keep a watch over my lips and let the words I speak be words of life, words that build others up rather than tear them down. Lord, let me be known as someone who speaks words of encouragement, someone whose words bring healing. Father, help me to focus on the positive and to keep my sights set on Jesus. Lord, I love You. I praise You. In Jesus Name, Amen.