I grew up very aware of the words of my mouth.
Extremely aware.
As kids, we weren’t allowed to say things like, “That drives me crazy!” or “I’m losing my mind!”
My mom would quickly jump in:
“Don’t say that! You are NOT losing your mind! You are NOT crazy! Your grandpa actually did go crazy, so don’t confess that over yourself!”
So before I even had my own personal walk with Jesus, I knew:
Words matter.
Early in our marriage, we met these amazing ladies we called the Honey Bunch. Honey was the grandma, Paulette her daughter, and Jennie her other daughter.
These ladies were amazing.
It was almost like sitting at the feet of someone who had spent so much time with Jesus that He just spilled out of them. We certainly didn’t elevate them to the place of Jesus—but they were as much like Jesus as almost anyone we had ever met.
They told stories about being on the water and speaking to a storm in Jesus’ Name—and watching it calm down.
They prayed for people in hospitals and told stories of cancer disappearing, tumors being gone, and sickness being healed.
Living at the beach, hurricanes were common. They would pray over their property before a storm came, believing God for protection. Afterward, destruction might be everywhere around them, yet not even a stick had fallen from a tree onto their grass.
They spoke Jesus.
They read the Bible.
They quoted Scripture.
They were walking, talking, living, breathing ambassadors for Jesus.
And Tyler and I were SO GREEN.
We were new to all of it—like sponges, soaking up everything we could learn about the Bible.
We devoured books they recommended, listened to tapes—yes, tapes, kids; you put them in this thing called a boom box 😂—then CDs, and attended churches and conferences where we could learn more about what God had for our Christian lives.
And then…
You have children.
One child.
Then two.
Then three.
Then four.
You go from a little busy, to busier, to busier yet, to wildly full.
Your heart is full. Your house is full. Your calendar is full.
You’re serving, loving, driving, coaching, helping with homework and projects, feeding kids and their friends, pouring Jesus into them through food and hugs and conversations.
And somewhere in the middle of all that good…
some habits gradually fall away.
For me, one of those habits was regularly SPEAKING LIFE.
Not just believing Scripture.
Not just reading Scripture.
But actually opening my mouth and speaking the Word of God OUT LOUD.
I never completely forgot the importance of my words.
Even now, I will almost never call someone “crazy.” I try not to speak identities over myself or my kids that I don’t want them to own.
“He has ADHD” isn’t something I would say.
Instead:
He has the mind of Christ.
“She is selfish.”
No.
She walks in love because Christ first loved her.
“I’m a loser.”
No.
I am the head and not the tail. Above only and not beneath.
Again and again, I can come back to one question:
What does the Bible say about that?
But lately I realized there is another place where I have dropped the ball royally.
My silence.
I haven’t spoken the negative.
Great job, Amy.
But…
I haven’t filled the space with the WORD.
I haven’t aggressively, out-loud been confessing Scripture over myself.
Over my kids.
Over my husband.
Over our home.
The air has been too silent.
The days of my regular confessions, affirmation cards, and speaking Scripture OUT LOUD over situations had become dormant.
And those days are coming back.
John 10:10 says:
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”
That makes me think about my flower beds.
If I leave my front flower bed completely alone for long enough, do you know what happens?
I don’t have to plant weeds.
They just show up.
Neglect gives them room.
And I think there are areas of our lives where silence can do something similar.
So here is my challenge to myself—and maybe to you too:
TAKE UP SPACE.
Fill the void.
Open your mouth.
Speak the promises of God.
Let the Word—the Word that Scripture says is living, active and sharper than any two-edged sword—fill your home.
Some of the Scriptures I have spoken for years need to come alive in my mouth again:
• I am the head and not the tail, above only and not beneath.
Deuteronomy 28:13
• I cover myself, my husband and my children with the armor of God—the belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, feet fitted with the gospel of peace, shield of faith — that extinguishes ALL the flaming arrows of the enemy, helmet of salvation and sword of the Spirit.
Ephesians 6:10–18
• God commands His angels concerning us, to protect us wherever we go.
Psalm 91:11
• Thank You, Lord, that my children grow in favor with God and with man. Give them favor with their teachers today.
1 Samuel 2:26; Luke 2:52
• God gives me the ability to produce wealth.
Deuteronomy 8:18
• My gifts make room for me and bring me before great men/women.
Proverbs 18:16
• Thank You, God, that You began a good work in me and You WILL carry it on to completion.
Philippians 1:6
• I am a dreamer. I believe that all things are possible to the one who believes.
Mark 9:23
• Thank You, God, that You are Jehovah Jireh—MY Provider.
Genesis 22:14
• Thank You that You are Jehovah Rapha—the Lord who heals.
Exodus 15:26
That’s just the beginning of mine.
Make your own.
Write them down.
Put them somewhere you’ll see them. Your car. A notecard by your shoes —ready for your walk, taped on the bathroom wall.
And then SPEAK THEM.
Daily.
Regularly.
Over your family.
Over your spouse.
Over yourself.
Over your finances.
Over your dreams.
Over your health.
Don’t leave the garden unattended and then be surprised when weeds start growing.
We are going to proactively spray some weed killer on the things that would love to infest the gardens of our lives.
And our weed killer is going to be THE WORD OF GOD—spoken OUT LOUD.
So today I’m opening my mouth again:
Thank You, God, that I am a CHILD of the MOST HIGH GOD, and I walk in DIVINE FAVOR today, in Jesus’ Name!
Amen.
