Have you ever been around people who just love to talk? They are sometimes known as extroverts, and they typically have a lot to say! And then there are introverts like me, who’d rather spend an hour in a dentist’s chair than be forced to converse. Whether you’re an extrovert or an introvert, neither personality is better or worse than the other, but all of us can learn from Scripture about the power of our words.
I used to read James 3 and think about the loquacious members among us and how challenged they must be to always have to watch their words: “And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature…. [8]But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison”(James 3:6 and 8).
I would thank God that He made me the way He did. After all, most people have heard, or have even had it said to them, “If you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything at all!” It was easy for me to choose the latter option and stay silent. But I later realized that just because I refrained from speaking negative or hurtful things didn’t mean I was necessarily doing what God wanted—or even required—me to do.
In his teaching The Power of Faith-Filled Words, Andrew encourages us not to speak our fears, doubts, unbelief, or anything that we don’t want to happen to us. As he likes to say, based on Proverbs 6:2, “We are hung by our tongues.” However, we should speak what we do want to happen. “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit…”(Prov. 18:21). There are two sides to this verse: Words can produce death, which is why it’s sometimes best to stay silent. But they can also produce life. Good and bad fruit are produced when we speak.
Throughout Genesis 1, God created our world by speaking it into existence. He didn’t snap His fingers, clap His hands, or simply think it into being. He used words. Therefore, we also must use words to create what we desire—whether it’s healing, prosperity, peace, or anything else God wants us to have.
In The Power of Faith-Filled Words, Andrew stresses the importance of watching our words during times of crisis. This doesn’t mean simply not speaking out our fears; it also means to speak words of faith that align with Scripture. We have the power to literally speak God’s will into our circumstances. Jesus said in Mark 11:23, “Whosoever shall say unto this mountain…he shall have whatsoever he saith.” We have to actually say, not just think or even pray.
The Power of Faith-Filled Words is one of the teachings included in Andrew’s Christian Survival Kit package, a Word-filled collection of Andrew’s best that will help you survive and overcome crises that come your way. Check out our store to see what this package includes.
So, extroverts, keep on talking! But think before you speak, and align your words with God’s. And introverts, let’s make our voices heard so we can“have whatsoever [we] saith” (brackets mine)!
Extroverts, we know you likely have a comment. Introverts, do you want to give it a try? You are all welcome to comment below if this has blessed you.
