If you know me, you know I’m passionate about declaring the Word of God. Whether on the mountain or in the valley, you bet I’m speaking scripture as I praise or pray.
Why? Because I believe in the power of words. It’s probably part of the reason my job as a writer feels so right. But even as words on a page are powerful, words spoken with our mouths have far greater impact.
It’s why prayer is so important. More than a way for us to connect with God, it’s a channel for us to partner with God to see His will fulfilled on earth. Our prayers activate God’s purposes. I believe there are some things God wants to do in our lives and in our worlds that are just a prayer away. God is waiting for us to say the word before sending His angels on assignment to fulfil it.
And yes, you do have that authority. When you give your life to Jesus and live surrendered to Him, you receive it – even if you don’t believe you’re a “prayer warrior”.
“Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
Matthew 18:18 NIV
We are God’s vessels to bring heaven to earth! And seeing that become a reality in our lives means not staying silent. I remember a minister once saying, “You can never win a spiritual battle in silence”. That stuck with me.
And it goes both ways. Our words can also harm us – and others.
The Lord has recently been speaking to me about my words, opening my spiritual eyes to see the impact of even throwaway comments. It’s made me more aware of what comes out of my mouth in each moment. This revelation has meant I sometimes even pull others up on things they say if I believe their words could cause harm.
And the enemy preys on these opportunities because he knows words mean agreement. And an agreement gives legal ground for him to get a foothold.
“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
1 Peter 5:8 NIV
Our words are truly powerful. They create, heal and deliver. They bring life or death. They build up or tear down.
In this blog, I explore how our words have so much impact.
Words can create worlds
Let’s start from the beginning – literally.
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”
Genesis 1:1 NIV
We know God is the mastermind behind the creation of this world. But depending on how familiar you are with the Bible, you may or may not know how He did it.
Yep, you guess it – with words. Here’s what happened on day one:
“And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.”
Genesis 1:3-5 NIV
In Genesis 1, we repeatedly read “and God said” as God created the sky, ground, plants, sun, moon, animals – even man – the same way.
Simple, right? There was no specific formula or recipe to bring the world into existence. God just used the power of His words. And as human beings created in God’s image, we can do the same.
Well, not create the universe. But we can shape the world we live in when we exercise the authority we’ve been given through Jesus by using our words. We sometimes forget that, don’t we?
Now, I’m not saying we get into the New Age practice of manifesting our reality. That fuels the system of self – motivated by selfish ambition and influenced by the demonic kingdom.
What I am saying, is that through our words, we can see God’s will done in our lives simply by asking Him. And declaring His will with authority.
“This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
Matthew 6:9-10
But how can we know God’s will?
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Romans 12:2
It starts with being fully surrendered to God, not going through the motions of Christianity, but seeking to please God every day. As we do that, and renew our mind with the Word of God, we allow Holy Spirit to purify our hearts and transform us so we see more of who God is (Matthew 5:8) and can discern His will.
Words can heal and deliver
Fast forward to the New Testament, where we get to observe how Jesus lived and ministered to people. Jesus was also about doing His Father’s will.
““My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.”
John 4:34
“For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.”
John 6:38
So we know that Jesus’ words were aligned with God the Father’s will. And the Father fulfilled Jesus’ requests – every time.
Jesus did all kinds of miracles during His time on earth (and He still does today). Some of them were unusual by method, like making mud with saliva to heal a blind man’s eyes (John 9:1-12)! But most of the time, Jesus used words to heal and set people free from bondage.
Here are some examples:
Healing a blind man
““What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.” “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.”
Mark 10:51-52 NIV
Healing a royal official’s son
“The royal official said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.”
“Go,” Jesus replied, “your son will live.”
The man took Jesus at his word and departed. While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, “Yesterday, at one in the afternoon, the fever left him.”
Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” So he and his whole household believed.”
John 4:49-53 NIV
Delivering a man from an impure spirit
“Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out, “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are-the Holy One of God!” “Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!” The impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.”
Mark 1:23-26 NIV
Healing a centurion’s servant
“When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.” Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?” The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed…Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that moment.”
Matthew 8:5-9,13
Raising a widow’s son from the dead
“Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out-the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.” Then he went up and touched the bier they were carrying him on, and the bearers stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.”
Luke 7:11-15 NIV
These are just a fraction of the miracles Jesus did by using His voice. And He moves in the same way today, only now it’s through anointed vessels. Like Peter and Paul were able to heal and deliver people through their ministry, there are many servants of God around the world with the power of God flowing through them. And more with each day!
When we fully surrender and obey God, removing anything in our hearts that offends Him and positioning our hearts with humility, we can also receive a measure of anointing.
Words can bring death
As I touched on, our words don’t just heal – they can also harm if we’re not careful. In the spiritual realm, this is like bringing death and destruction to whoever or whatever is the subject of our words. It could be a person, an area of life, our bodies, a dream or project, maybe even our future.
“The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”
Proverbs 18:21 NIV
We see this in action in the book of Exodus when the Israelites were in the wilderness after God freed them from slavery in Egypt. They were frustrated on their journey and kept forgetting all the Lord had done for them. So they complained.
“All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, “If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this wilderness! Why is the Lord bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?””
Numbers 14:2-3 NIV
We read God’s response later in the chapter:
“The Lord said to Moses and Aaron: “How long will this wicked community grumble against me? I have heard the complaints of these grumbling Israelites. So tell them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Lord, I will do to you the very thing I heard you say: In this wilderness your bodies will fall—every one of you twenty years old or more who was counted in the census and who has grumbled against me. Not one of you will enter the land I swore with uplifted hand to make your home, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.”
Numbers 14:26-30 NIV
So that generation of Israelites ended up dying in the wilderness and never made it to the promised land. Ouch.
Our words produce the fruit of either life or death. And where it brings death, it agrees with the enemy’s agenda.
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
John 10:10 NIV
Jesus has given us authority over all the power of the enemy (Luke 10:19). But when we agree with the enemy’s lies through the words we speak, we hand over that authority in certain areas.
I saw this play out in my life in recent years as I walked (more like ‘crawled’ at times!) through a healing journey. I received a diagnosis and instead of being careful with my words, saying “I’ve been diagnosed with lupus”, I would say “I have lupus” – as if I was taking possession of the condition.
What I didn’t realise, was that I was agreeing with the diagnosis rather than rejecting it and claiming my rightful inheritance of abundant health as a co-heir with Jesus Christ.
Sure, I was declaring Isaiah 53:5 that I was healed by Jesus’ stripes and not accepting that it was something I would always have to “manage”. But the moment I said “I have”, I gave the enemy power in this area of my life. And each time I said it, I got in deeper.
Until I had a friend of a friend pull me up on it at a bridal shower! From that moment, I was more intentional about my words. But I hadn’t received the revelation for myself. I didn’t realise I had some renouncing to do, so I could come out of agreement with this lie.
Now I know. And that legal contract that brought death has been broken! Glory to God! It happened when I used my words to renounce death and spoke life over my health – and positioned myself in the presence of the anointing.
“And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.”
Isaiah 10:27 KJV (emphasis added)
Words can breathe life
We’ve seen how Jesus’ words gave life to those who needed it. We can also speak life over ourselves, the people around us and specific situations.
Mary, the mother of Jesus, demonstrates this so well for us in the book of Luke. When she had an encounter with the angel delivering the news that she would carry the Saviour of the world, she didn’t doubt. Sure, she was shocked (who wouldn’t be?) but her words spoke life over the promise given to her:
““I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.”
Luke 1:38
And we have so many reasons to be grateful for her obedience and words of agreement today!
But we read a different story when Zechariah receives the message that his wife Elizabeth would give birth to John the Baptist (who would prepare the way for Jesus) – even though they were both older in years. Zechariah’s response speaks words of unbelief, which led God to close his mouth. So Zechariah couldn’t speak until John was born!
“Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!”
Psalm 141:3 ESV
That’s how important it was to prevent words of death and keep the promise alive. Elizabeth also stayed in seclusion for five months (Luke 1:24) to protect her pregnancy from negative words.
The lesson we can learn from Mary and Zechariah’s experience is that words matter, especially in seeing God’s purposes fulfilled. It’s through our words that we can nullify the enemy’s schemes and decree the will of God in our lives.
For example, if you’ve been dealing with health issues, you can say, “I renounce all sickness and infirmity in my life and declare that I am healed in the mighty name of Jesus!”
In addition to declaring God’s truth over your situation, position yourself where God’s anointing is flowing to receive healing. Every time you speak this truth, a shift takes place in the spiritual realm. You’ll then see the manifestation of it in the physical realm – whether immediately or over time.
“Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.”
Proverbs 16:24 NIV
Speaking words of life over others is also another way we can shine the light of Jesus to people in our world. Prophetic words, inspired by Holy Spirit, are an example of this.
“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[a] 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.’””
Ezekiel 37:4-6
When we prophesy, we partner with God to speak His will into being, calling forth what is to come. But it must always be for God’s glory and aligned with His Word.
“Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil.”
1 Thessalonians 5:19-22
And if we run out of words, the Bible is full of scriptural blessings we can declare over ourselves, our loved ones and people we encounter.