Blessings & Curses

Many Believers are unknowingly making verbal oaths and agreements with the enemy, even speaking curses. Without realizing it, they are coming into agreement with the enemy of their souls.

Welcome to the Unstuck Journey, Week 3!

We've talked about the heart last week, but we are now going to segue into the mouth. If the heart is one of the most prevalent ways that one becomes bound, then the mouth is a close second! You may have heard the Scripture in Proverbs 18:21 (NLT): "Death and life are in the power of the tongue." But often, we don't make the connection of just how powerful our words are. What comes from our mouths matters, perhaps far more than we may realize. When we speak, we are either coming into agreement with the Word and will of God or aligning with the lies and accusations of the enemy.

What flows from our mouths can bind us, keep us stuck, and open spiritual doors we were never meant to walk through. Many of us are speaking without caution, rambling out "word vomit" day after day, unaware that our words are not meaningless. Our words are powerful, and they carry spiritual weight. Our words are either carrying life through encouragement, edification, and empowerment (agreeing with God's promises), or they are carrying death, speaking fear, lies, destruction, and words that are antithetical to biblical truth.

Some Believers are unintentionally cursing themselves or their situations without realizing it. When we say things like, "I'll never get better," or "This is always how it's going to be," or "I'm just hot-tempered like my dad. I can't help it," these things do not align with biblical truth. As our Scripture reference highlights today, there are great consequences to what we come into agreement with aloud. The words we speak either strengthen our lives or give the enemy permission to build strongholds. When we speak with careless or thoughtless words, it's as if another spiritual chain is added to the bondage of our lives, binding us in areas where God desires us to be free.

The tongue holds the power of spiritual life and death. When we curse through casual words that bring death to a situation instead of life, we open doors for the enemy to steal the abundant life God has promised. Words can facilitate a beautiful garden of peace, joy, health, protection, and love. Similarly, words can produce curses of physical sickness, chronic stress, anxiety, depression, confusion, and emotional torment. We must be careful to speak over ourselves, our situations, and our children in a way that brings honor to the Lord and aligns with His Word. For example, instead of saying, "I'm just like my dad. I cannot control my temper," say, "I am a child of the living God. Uncontrollable anger ran through my family until it ran into me. I praise God for self-control in my life." This shift in words will also shift your behavior and mindset. This process of watching our words takes time and intention. It may even seem weird or unnatural at first, but the commitment to do this will change your life! I've certainly seen it change mine.

In short, your mouth is a weapon. It can build or destroy, bless or curse, set free or bind. Let's ask the Lord to help us steward it with wisdom and intentionality.

Points to Ponder:

• What curses are you unknowingly making with your words? Consider whether your daily speech reflects God's truth or if you're unintentionally speaking defeat, fear, or judgment over yourself and others.
• What common sayings in your family or home have been said jokingly that do not align with Scripture? How might this be impacting the family?