- Scripture:
Announce this to the godless nations: Prepare for battle!
Soldiers at attention! Present arms! Advance! Turn your shovels into swords, turn your hoes into spears. Let the weak one throw out his chest and say, “I’m tough, I’m a fighter.” Hurry up, pagans! Wherever you are, get a move on! Get your act together. Prepare to be shattered by God! Let the pagan nations set out for Judgment Valley. There I’ll take my place at the bench and judge all the surrounding nations.
Joel 3:9–12 MSG
- Reflection:
Power of Your Tongue
I am not sure if many people know it, but constantly telling yourself that something is wrong will eventually make something go wrong. It can affect your health, finances, relationships, and more. This negative self-talk can hold us back from reaching our potential. If we go around saying negative things about ourselves, our family, or our future, it will limit our potential for success. When you say, “I’ll never be successful. I’m not talented. I can’t break this addiction. I always get the flu. After what they did, I’ll never be happy again,” you’re giving those words the power to come true. You’re predicting your own future. You’re inviting negativity into your life. Before you say it, make sure you truly want it. The environments we grow up in often teach us to speak negatively about ourselves. As a child of Christ, it's up to you to break free from this pattern. No one else is going to do it for you.
Where do we go from here?
It's not easy to break the habit of allowing others to mistreat you and repeating negative words that have been passed down through generations. Now is the time to change your mindset. You can't speak negatively and expect a positive life. You can't talk about defeat and lack and expect to live a victorious and abundant life. Your words shape your future. If you want to know what you'll be like in five years, listen to what you're saying about yourself now. Stop speaking defeat over your future and start proclaiming victory over your life. Talk about the person you want to become. Speak about health, vitality, and abundance.
Our Prayer for Today
"Father, thank You for the power of our words to bring life to our faith and to speak our future into existence. We are grateful that we can use our words to welcome healing, freedom, abundance, and strength into our lives. We will declare what You say about us and the promises You've given us in Your Word. In Jesus’ Name, Amen."
Coach Arthur Poston Jr.
Focused Development Organization
Middle School Coach