Tag: words

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Choose Your Words Carefully (Watch Your Mouth!)

The Manna Chef

You know what?  I don’t think we realize sometimes just how much we can influence those around us.  What we say is important and so are our actions.  Sister, you have the ability to change the environment around you, probably more than you think.  This thing is, that works both ways.  You can bring life and progress or you can bring death and chaos:  all from what comes from your mouth.  We know that “death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”  (Proverbs 18:21 NKJV)  But today, I want to share with you a moment when a woman’s very words changed the course of the exodus of the children of Israel.  (Her words affected everyone.)

In Numbers 12, Miriam and Aaron began to criticize Moses because he married a Cushite (Ethiopian) woman.  (Have you made a choice that others didn’t approve?)  They began to grumble, asking “Does God only speak to Moses?  Hasn’t He spoken through us, too?”  In other words, “He’s not the only one God speaks to.  God speaks to us, too.  Moses isn’t so special.”  First of all, be careful when you even begin to have thoughts about criticizing God’s people!  (As my mother would say, “Keep your mouth off of them!”)   And don’t compare your ability/anointing/gifts to anyone else.  God will use whomever He chooses to use in the capacity in which He chooses to use them.  Who are we to complain or criticize?  And instead of just criticizing others’ choices, we should spend a little more time praying for God’s people, His protection, His wisdom, and ultimately, His will.

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Who Told You That?

The Manna Chef

I recently asked, “Whose steps are you following?” to remind you to be intentional in following the leading of the Holy Spirit.  It’s a great reminder that nothing in our lives happens by chance and that we need to be aware at all times of the effects of our actions.  But today, I want to go even deeper.  If you’ve ever had to deal with negative thoughts, then this message is for you.

I remember many years ago reading about “negative self-talk.”  At the time, I was teaching middle schoolers, and it was a message that was near and dear to my heart.  I firmly believed (and I still do) that speaking words of life into our young people is vital to their development.  But it doesn’t stop there.  We need those same words of life.  And we need to speak them constantly.  (You have power of life and death right in your own mouth, according to Proverbs 18:21.)

This pandemic has altered our daily lives.  Many of us are working from home.  Others may not be working at all, while some are working nonstop as essential staff.  Don’t believe for a second that the enemy is not waiting by to speak all kinds of lies to you.  He wants to plant ideas of hopelessness and despair.  He wants you to be paralyzed from fear and for you to succumb to the pressure that is all around you.  He wants you to be depressed from being constantly inundated with bad news and frightening statistics.  Sisters, he wants desperately to defeat you.  Remember, he has three jobs: to steal, to kill, and to destroy, so you have to be prepared to defeat him. 

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Your Words Matter

The Manna Chef

I know that we are living in challenging times, but I want to encourage you to look at the good in the midst of all of the chaos going on around us. Listen to what God is whispering to you. Is He calling you for more prayer time with Him or more time spent in His Word? Is He encouraging you to spend more quality time with your loved ones? Are you able to get some much-needed rest? Or are you on the front lines showing that God truly takes care of His own while you are demonstrating His love and power to those seeking medical care?

I need to remind you of something today: your words are important. They have power, so be careful how you use them, especially now. You can speak blessings over your life or you can speak curses. Even in the midst of all that is going on right now, you can speak life, Sisters!

Let me give you a practical example. My grandmother (one of the greatest prophets to have ever lived) never allowed us to speak words of poverty. We weren’t allowed to say things like, “I’m broke.” We learned at an early age that our words spoke life and death and that we were responsible for how we used them. Instead of saying those negative words, we learned to call on the Lord to bless us. We learned to speak blessings into our lives–and yes, even into our wallets. It was a profound lesson, and I still remind myself of the power I have in my own mouth to create and manifest results. That shouldn’t really be a surprise though, should it?

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Not Another Word

The Manna Chef

Have you ever been so angry with someone that you felt, I mean actually felt, heat rising in your chest? Well, sisters, I have, and I’m going to share something with you today. Clearly, I am a work in progress, but I am learning, and it’s definitely worth sharing with you!

First of all, let’s be clear, being angry is not sin. Don’t let anyone make you feel guilty over being angry. Ephesians 4:26-27 (NKJV) says, “Be angry, and do not sin: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil.” God does not say, “Don’t get angry.” He did not say that being angry makes you unholy. He said to be angry but don’t let the anger cause you to sin. And then He goes even further to tell you to resolve the issue so that you don’t leave an avenue for the enemy to wreak havoc.

I try to stay in constant communication with the Father because I need Him to direct my very words. I’m so serious, too! I call on Jesus all day long: in the car in the middle of traffic, at work, at home while I’m cooking dinner…You get the picture!

I know that I am gifted with words. Simply put: I love words. I always have. I love how they are used. I love how phrases fit together and how one word can speak volumes. (I was that kid who loved reading the dictionary.) God has groomed me to be very effective in communicating my thoughts into words. But, let me make this clear: that can be problematic sometimes because it can get me into trouble if I really say what I think without seeking the Lord first.

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