101 Reasons Not to Speak Positively (And the One Reason That Beats Them All)

Let’s be honest. You probably have more than enough reasons to speak negatively.

Look around you. The economy is tough. Things you planned for are not working out. You have applied for jobs and received rejection after rejection. Your finances are stretched. Your health may be giving you reasons to worry.

So, when you say, “I’m broke,” “Nothing is working for me,” “I don’t think I’ll ever recover,” or even “What if I’m a failure?” you may feel like you are simply stating the facts.

And yes, the situation may be very real.

Yes, you have reasons.

Yes, you can see the evidence right in front of you.

But what if what you see is not all there is?

As a child of God, you are not meant to let what is happening around you determine what comes out of your mouth and dictate your response.

This is where the power of words becomes important.

Your Words Are Not Neutral

The Bible says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Proverbs 18:21).

Notice that it says death and life. Your words matter.

God Himself demonstrated this when He said, “Let there be light,” and there was light (Genesis 1:3).

If God created by speaking, then your words are not something to treat casually.

This does not mean pretending that problems do not exist. It means refusing to give them the final word.

The economy may be difficult, but that does not mean, “My life will always be difficult.”

You may be facing financial pressure, but that does not mean, “I will always be broke.”

You may have experienced failure, but that does not mean, “I am a failure.”

Acknowledging Is Not Agreeing

There is a difference between acknowledging a situation and agreeing with it.

The economy might be bad, but you do not have to let its condition determine the outcome of your life.

Learn to have confidence in who you are in Christ Jesus; that is one of your benefits as a child of God.

God has given you His Word so that you can speak beyond what your eyes can see.

Say What God Says

The Bible says, “Ye are gods” (Psalm 82:6). You have been made in the likeness of God, so your words matter.

Rather than simply repeating what the situation says, choose to speak what God says about you and your life.

Instead of, “Nothing works for me,” say, “All things are working together for my good.”

Instead of, “I am a failure,” say, “I am more than a conqueror through Christ.”

Instead of, “I will never recover,” say, “The Lord is my strength, and I am moving forward.”

Your words should not simply report what you see. They should express your confidence in God and His Word.

The Bible says, “We having the same spirit of faith… we also believe, and therefore speak” (2 Corinthians 4:13).

So yes, you have reasons to complain. You have reasons to worry. You have reasons to say, “Look at what is happening.”

But you also have a reason to speak positively: you have God’s Word.

The question is no longer, “What is happening?”

It is, “What am I going to say about what is happening?”

Choose your words carefully. Speak what God says about you, your future, your family, your work, and your circumstances.

Because you may have 101 reasons to speak negatively, but you have an even greater reason to choose your words carefully: God’s Word is positive about you, your future, and your life.

What fills your mind influences what comes out of your mouth. *The Power of Your Mind* by Pastor Chris Oyakhilome shows you how to build a victorious way of thinking.

Get your print copy or read it now on the LoveWorld Books eLibrary

Change what fills your mind, and you will change what comes out of your mouth.