During my morning devotion, I received an unmistakable message from the Lord: "Tell My people to watch their mouths. There are some things I want to do and release in their favor in the year 2024. Remind them not to curse their destinies with the words they say."

As both a listener and messenger, I feel compelled to bring this word to you. Our speech is a vessel, and today, God is urging us to steer it with care, so we don’t disrupt the wonders He is orchestrating in our lives, amen?

Together, our collective heart’s cry must be, yes Lord! We refuse to miss out on the divine plans laid out for us.

Earlier today, there is an experience my daughter Kaiah shared that made a deep impression on me. She recently listened to a motivational speaker who, despite his enthusiasm, was still grappling with the intricacies of English as his second language and wound up delivering a message with a comical twist.

In his zeal to empower, he urged the audience to embrace their ambitions, hold fast to hope, and persist against the odds. Yet, in a twist of phrase that would have grammar teachers double-taking, he enthusiastically concluded with, "Give up!"

And for good measure, he doubled down, "Give up!"

Thankfully, a lightbulb moment rescued him from his fumble, and he quickly revised his statement: "I mean, don’t give up!"

Good for him.

In the grand scheme of things, it was a harmless stumble on his path to mastering a new tongue, right? We can't help but smile at his innocent mix-up, knowing full well the spirit behind his words was sincere and well-meaning.

But this is also a good reminder that learning a new language, for example, the language of faith, is full of these little trips and stumbles. And I think this anecdote serves as a gentle reminder that our pursuit of fluency, whether in a second language or the language of God's Kingdom, is a journey filled with learning curves.

Speaking the language of faith

Think about it. Speaking the language of faith—words that echo the promises of Scripture, affirmations that align with the teachings of Jesus, and declarations that stand firm on God’s Word in the face of fear—is not our native dialect. That’s why we’ve got to be diligent students, embracing this divine lexicon with patience and practice.

For a moment, consider your words and ask, are the things I’m saying a reflection of worldly fears or of heavenly faith? Am I speaking declarations of despair or pronunciations of promise? Are my words painting a picture of defeat or victory? God is challenging us today to retrain our tongues, shifting our words from worldly despair to divine assurance.

Consider Job, a man esteemed for his integrity and righteousness, yet he found himself overwhelmed by life's severe trials. In a moment of profound anguish, while feeling the sting of life’s trials, he vented in Job 10:1, "I loathe my very life; therefore I will give free rein to my complaint and speak out in the bitterness of my soul."

Wait. Isn’t this is the very same man who declared in Job 13:15, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him?”

Sure is.

Look, if we’re honest, we have no room to judge Job. Our own lives sometime mirror Job’s dichotomy, where the struggle between complaint and trust plays out through our words. Truth is, we all have moments of weakness where we, like Job, might express our frustrations candidly. But here’s the thing we must remember, while we do have free rein, meaning we possess the liberty to express our grievances, as believers, we must allow the Holy Spirit to reign over our hearts and our speech, so we don’t undermine or sabotage the destiny God has for us.

Words of Unbelief

During intense trials, without the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (Ephesians 6:17), bitterness can take root in our hearts, overshadowing all that is good. Doubt-filled, fear-filled, pessimism-filled words will feed the weeds of bitterness in the gardens of our hearts, choking out our divine joy, peace, hope, and faith. Words of unbelief can choke out destiny.

The scriptural account of Zacharias in Luke 1 really drives home the lesson on the power of our words. This priest, while performing his sacred duties in the temple, was visited by the angel Gabriel, who brought the extraordinary news that Zacharias’s wife, Elizabeth, would bear him a son named John. John the Baptist would be the forerunner of Jesus, preparing the way for the Messiah.

Pretty incredible, yes?

Despite this being the very miracle Zacharias had prayed for, he responded not with faith that his son was on the way, but with skepticism, asking the angel, "How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years."

You'd think Zacharias would be over the moon, break out in a shout, and start speaking in tongues. But nope, he's doubtful. He basically says, "Prove it."

Prove it?

Uh-oh. That wasn’t the language of the Kingdom, so God silenced Zacharias, not out of punishment, but to safeguard the promise from the poison of doubt. The Lord said through Gabriel, "You will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time."

 Don’t give voice to unbelief

This account is a testament to the gravity with which God views our words. He doesn’t want us to give voice to disbelief when faced with His promises.

And so, friend, God sent me today to tell you to believe. Believe even when the wait feels endless. Believe even when the promise seems improbable. Believe even when your circumstances scream otherwise. Believe, for God is faithful to fulfill His word.

Trust in the assurance of Habakkuk 2:3, "For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay."

Believe in the might of God's word. Believe in the certainty of His plans. Believe in the abundance of His grace. Believe, and speak with the conviction of one who knows the power of God's unerring promise. Let your words be vessels of faith, brimming with the certainty that God will do just what He said. Believe, and let that belief shape every word you utter, every prayer you whisper, every thought you harbor. Believe, for in belief lies the key to unlocking the fullness of God's favor. It’s through belief that we step into everything God has for us.

To remind you of this truth, I’m stirring Hebrews 11:6 NIV as the sweetener in your cup of inspiration, which says, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”

As you drink down the contents of your cup, let your words reflect what you know about God—that He is able, He is faithful, and there is no failure in Him. Speak words of life over your destiny, and watch God release the manifold blessings He already has in store for you.

Now, let’s pray.

God, I believe Your word. I stand on Your promises. I confess that Your truth stands forever and if You said it, You will do it. Please help me to resist doubt, fear, and double-mindedness, and declare Your faithfulness. Today, I thank You by faith for the blessings You are releasing to me this year. I receive it with an open heart full of expectation and gratitude. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you desire prayer, please allow me, along with my intercessory prayer team, to stand in faith with you for breakthrough. We would be so honored. We have seen God work over and over again. There is power in agreement. Click here to request prayer now.

As always, thanks for reading and until next time... may today's cup of inspiration uplift, encourage, and empower you!