The Language Of Faith Reveals What's In Your Heart, Spills Out

Some people are so steeped in skepticism that doubt has become their native language. By contrast, Christians are known as believers (or they should be). Why is that? Because we have trusted in a Person, the Lord Jesus. We have believed the word that God has given to us. Because of this, we don't use negative speech like those around us who are without faith.

Faith has a vocabulary. When someone speaks from a heart filled with faith, the words they use sound positive and hopeful. Their anticipation of hoped-for achievements makes them sound like these things have already happened. The language of faith lets us see what is possible.

There is a real connection between what you say and what you see. The use of words that reflect authentic faith isn't magic or make believe, nor wishful thinking or pretending. When the Lord wanted to bring Abraham to faith, he showed him pictures to inspire his imagination. He promised him that his offspring would be as numerous as the sand on the beach or the stars in the sky. Abraham pictured it and believed it. God saw his faith and declared him just. For this reason, followers of Jesus must not let anything obscure the cross or distract from its reality.

Faith reflects what you have been looking at. To accomplish that, I fill my thoughts with words from God. I do this by reading and meditating on the Scriptures in the Holy Bible. I memorize verses that seem pertinent, that inspire faith, that become promises directly from God to me.

Faith reflects what you envision for tomorrow. God gave us an imagination for a reason. We're made in his image. With our mind's eye, we can picture what can occur in the future. If I have a promise from the Lord about something for my life, I can imagine that word being fulfilled. God wants us to pray, to line up with his word, rejoice, and then receive what we are expecting.

Faith has self-talk. It repeats what it has been listening to. You can program your faith with godly content, or you can poison your faith by tuning in to negative voices. Satan lured Eve to doubt God with a question, "Did God say that?" On the other hand, you can feed your faith. You can make it stronger by listening to faith-filled words. I refuse to take in critical, skeptical ideas that plant fear or sow doubt. Instead, I listen to praise music, scripture songs, and hymns containing lyrics of faith, hope, love, peace, and joy. I listen to podcasts to learn and grow in faith.

What you say reveals what is in your heart. Out of the overflow of your heart, speech flows out. Your words can betray you and trip you up. Or, your words can clarify your focus and settle your course. One of the most powerful things any follower of Jesus can do is speak faith. Hear God's words mixed with faith, then say them out loud. Let your ears hear your own voice staking a claim by faith to what God has said. "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ," the Scriptures say. God's voice inspires faith. If you need faith, listen to God!

Authentic faith comes as a gift from the Lord who created us. Our Savior knows how faith works. It's a powerful force. Jesus says to us, "If you can believe, all things are possible."

RON WOOD IS A WRITER AND MINISTER. CONTACT HIM AT [email protected] OR VISIT WWW.TOUCHEDBYGRACE.ORG. THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED ARE THOSE OF THE AUTHOR.

Religion on 11/08/2017