THE POWER OF YOUR WORDS
"Indeed, we put bits in horse's mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body."
(James 3: 3)
A snaffle bit is often used when first starting a horse under saddle. The bit becomes an important line of communication because it ultimately determines the direction the horse will go.
YOUR WORDS SHAPE
YOUR FUTURE
Have you ever thought about all the things you do that you hope will affect your future in a positive way? For example, some people are very conscientious about what they eat, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Others
are very thrifty with their money, and are very conscientious about their financial future. But how many people are really conscientious about what comes out of their mouth? I'm talking about the words that we speak. The Bible says that life and death are in the power of our tongue, and yet, most folks don't consider the real power that their words have in shaping their future. Before we talk about you and me, and the critical importance of our words, let's talk about the power of the bit in a horse's mouth to get a better understanding.
THE POWER OF THE
BIT
"For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body."
(James 3: 2)
With experience, a horse soon learns that a tiny piece of metal in his mouth known as the bit has the power to turn his entire body around.
One of the most important lessons we teach our horse is to accept the bit. When we're first starting a horse under saddle, we usually begin with a snaffle bit, and later progress to a shank or custom bit as the horse matures and his mouth becomes more educated. Initially, if a horse has never had a bit in his mouth, he might protest by resisting the bit. Or he might simply explore the taste of the metal by licking or mouthing the bit. A rider with soft hands will take hold of the reins that are attached to the bit, and they will gently teach the horse to "give" to the pressure in his mouth. As a horse learns to "follow the feel" of the bit in his mouth that is produced when the rider pulls the reins, he begins to understand the power of the bit to control his direction.
Horses often graduate from snaffle bits which require direct reining to a shank bit (seen in this picture) which requires indirect reining, and is often used with what is commonly called neck reining.
Most people have seen a horse bit, or at least know what they are and what their function is. The Bible compares the bit in a horse's mouth to the human tongue and the words that we speak. When we put a bit in a horse's mouth, it controls not only his mouth and head, but it also controls the direction in which his entire body goes. Think of it like this, where the head of the horse goes - his hiney is sure to follow! Here's an example: We pull the right rein attached to a snaffle bit that is lying in the horse's mouth, and subsequently, the horse's head turns to the right. What happens next? You got it - the rest of the body follows. That's quite a miraculous feat if you consider that most horses weigh 1000 to 1200 pounds, or more, and the tiny bit weighs far less than a pound! Such is the power of the bit. In the same way, the Bible says that although it is a small member of our body, our tongue has the power not just to shape our life, but to determine it's direction, too.
THE REAL POWER OF YOUR WORDS
"The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips."
(Proverbs 16: 23)
How you introduce the bit to your horse will determine how well he accepts it. I'm very gentle when I introduce a new bit to my horse. I don't force the bit in his mouth, nor do I allow the metal to bump or clang against his teeth. My goal is for my horse to respect the power of the bit, and not resent it.
Our words have the power to shape our daily life, and they also have the power to shape our future. Oftentimes, we sabotage our lives, and our own future by the words that we speak. For example, we might want a new job, and we have all the right qualifications to land that job. But instead of confessing that we are well-able to do the job, we choose instead to confess that we'll probably never get the job. Or perhaps we desire a mate to share our life with. But instead of confessing that God is going to bring us a wonderful partner, instead, we confess that we'll probably never find the right person. We actually sabotage our self with our own prophetic words of defeat!
It's amazing how many excuses we have for simply confessing the wrong thing. One of the most common excuses I hear from people with bad confessions is, "I'm a realist." These folks wrongly think that if they confess something wonderful about themselves, or their future, then they are simply setting themselves up for disappointment, hurt, or failure. They often state as though it's a fact, "nothing good ever happens to me." Can I be honest with you? You may think it's a realist that speaks this way, but in fact, it is a fatalist that repeatedly confesses his own failure. A fatalist has at his disposal an arsenal of wrong thinking. And ultimately, wrong thinking only leads to a trail of broken dreams, and an unfulfilled destiny.
CHANGE HOW YOU THINK - CHANGE HOW YOU SPEAK - CHANGE YOUR LIFE
"For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me. He gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that His commandment is life everlasting; whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak."
(John 12: 49 - 50)
Although I'm gentle in placing the bit in my horse's mouth, I want him to know that I take the bit "seriously". In the same way, I think it's safe to say that God takes our words seriously, even when we make the mistake of not doing so.
Let's be honest, we live in a world that is full of bad news. Unfortunately, bad news is contagious and people have a habit of spreading it around. So, how do we change the way we think when we're often caught up in the middle of what appears to be a world of nay-sayers, and doom and gloom? Worse yet, what if it's a world of our own making? Again, we change the way we think. And how do we change the way we think?
We change the way we think by getting in the Word of God and by learning to say what He says!
REMEMBER ...
God wants us to "change" how we think. Once we change how we think, then we will change what we say. And when we change what we say, then we will have the real power it takes to change our life!
WORD POWER 101
"Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof."
(Proverbs 18: 21)
I'm not one of those people who's very gifted or good at a whole lot of things. But I'm good with horses, and I'm good with words. I think that's because I've learned to respect the power that they both hold.
When I was a little girl, I used to sit in my room and write for hours. I wrote about everything from my adolescent feelings to fictional stories, to coming of age personal experiences, and even my immature thoughts about God. I quickly discovered my love for words. In my small world, words were a strong tool of self-expression. My words could be bright and cheerful depending on the day, or they could be dark as night. They could mask a childish or fleeting emotion, or they could be as lethal as a dangerous weapon and a dead-on target. The truth is, it would not be until I surrendered my life to Christ that I would fully understand the power I had been given - the power I had wielded so recklessly - the power of my own words.
IT'S TIME TO EXCHANGE LIES FOR THE TRUTH
"He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life; but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction."
(Proverbs 13: 3)
When a horse learns to trust and respect the one who holds the reins of his life, he can be trusted with the power of the bit in his mouth.
Are you ready for a new direction in your life? It starts with your words. And it starts by exchanging lies for the truth. Here's a few truths from God's Word to get you started with your brand new vocabulary!
Next time you're tempted to
tell it like you think it is,
try this instead ...
Instead of saying, "I could never do that", exchange those words for God's Word which says, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
Instead of saying, "I'm always a victim", exchange those words for God's Word which says, "I'm more than a conqueror - I'm an overcomer in this life."
Instead of saying "nothing good ever happens to me", exchange those words for God's Word which says, "All things are possible to those who believe."
Now, thank God for the gift of His wisdom, and may the proof of His gift always be found in your Words!
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