Have you ever tried to find the hidden objects in a picture? Occasionally, I like to try my skill with those puzzles. I take a look, and almost immediately see three, or four, or maybe more of the hidden items. I usually find most of them fairly quickly, but somehow I get stuck on the very last one, or two. Strange how that happens almost every time.
I study the picture closer, turning it side to side and upside down, looking at every angle, examining it with pinpoint precision before finally admitting to myself, that they probably just inadvertently left one out.
Reaching this conclusion, someone nearby asks if I’ve found all the objects.
“I’ve found all but one. I think they may have left it out.”
They reply, “No, it’s there. It’s right under your nose.”
How often I remember growing up and searching for something I had misplaced, lifting objects, shuffling papers, moving this around, looking under that, turning the room upside down and tearing it apart, only to hear those words, “It’s right under your nose.”
In life, I’ve found many times that the answer I was looking for was, indeed, right under my nose, literally, — my mouth. Yes, sitting right under my nose, my mouth.
The spoken word is a powerful thing, and it’s amazing how much the Bible has to say about our words, and how we use them.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those that love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:21
You will also declare a thing, and it will be established for you; so light will shine on your ways. Job 22:28
Set a guard, Lord, over my mouth; keep watch at the door of my lips. Psalm 141:3
Whoever says to this mountain, “Be removed and be cast into the sea,” and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Mark 11:23
Words matter. They can tear down, or they can build up. They can hurt, or they can heal. They can tear us apart, or they can pull us together. They can spread hope, or they can spread fear. They can encourage, or they can discourage.
Yes, words matter, and too often we speak so many negative words, and build such a strong case that we start to believe them.
Words may not change reality, but they can certainly change how we perceive reality.
I challenge you to check your words. Listen to what you’re saying. If you hear yourself speaking negatively, stop, count to three, and substitute something positive. Start speaking life to those dreams, those desires, those designs, that you thought had no hope.
Stop speaking gloom and start speaking bloom over your circumstances.
Let the redeemed of the Lord say so. Psalm 107:2
I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him I will trust.” Psalm 91:2
So exactly, what are you saying?
Listen to your voice. Listen to the words that you have chosen.
If you don’t like what you’re hearing, exercise your option and choose to change.
Open your mouth and raise a hallelujah.
Your answer may be, right under your nose.
I’m . . .
Still Believing!
That’s beautifully written ❣