Ten Things To Stop Saying Immediately
As If Your Life Depended On It
1.“My back is killing me.”
No it’s not. In fact, your back is your strong support. It keeps you upright when working properly. It houses your backbone and everyone needs a backbone. So stop speaking death over your body via some variation of this theme. Your body is fearfully, wonderfully, and beautifully made, not to mention made it’s been bestowed with wondrous healing powers, not to mention the healing Hand of the Lord. Here’s a suggestion. The next time you’re tempted to make such a statement, let it be a prompt to ask God to touch you with His healing hand. And/or speak blessings (life, health, and strength) over your back or whatever system, organ, or structure that’s troubling you. I cannot count the number of times I said it and He did it. He will do the same for you.
2. “I’m an idiot.”
Are you? really? Lacking in mental capacity? Or do you just want to be? Lay this mantra down, the sooner the better. “Oh, but I merely jest” you say. Laughter is good medicine but these words are not. These words have the same power, the same impact, whether you speak them in all seriousness or in light-heartedness. Here’s a hyperbolic example to make my point: Would you go to a job interview and tell the person seated across from you you’re an idiot? Even as a joke? I didn’t think so and I rest my case.
3. “I’m sick and tired of _________.”
Are you truly sick? Or do you want to be sick? You can fill in the blank with whatever situation you wish to be ensnared in. Otherwise, stop decreeing sickness over your body, even tiredness. This is not meant to be your portion. Not to mention, your emotions aren’t meant to rule how you go about your day. Yes, it may be challenging, and yes it may even be a struggle, but you cannot afford to come under that thing. Because you were created to be above, not beneath; to overcome and not have that thing come over you.
4. “I can’t.”
Often, this is a masquerade for “I don’t want to try” and “It’s too hard.” Yes, it may be difficult, and you haven’t learned it, yet. And likely the reason you haven’t learned it yet is because you haven’t yet tried. Yes there are things you will never do – bench-pressing 200 pounds comes to my mind – but don’t allow “I can’t” to take up permanent residence in your mindset, especially as a component of your identity. There’s a reason Watty Piper wrote “The Little Engine That Could” and would that every kindergarten teacher or homeschool mom read this book to the children under her care and keeping. It would create such a powerful foundation and mindset for learning.
5. “I hate to say this, but…”
If you hate to say something, you probably shouldn’t. You’ve already allowed that’s it’s not going to be kind, or useful, or needful. Silence would be a better choice. In fact, silence would be golden in this moment. Not to mention that if you “hate” to say it, it’s likely not the Spirit of love in operation. Best to just stick to the Ephesians 4:29 admonition to speak only those words that impart grace to the hearer as well as Psalm 141:3: “Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips.”
6. “I’m sorry, but…”
This is part of the “but” attitudes and basically it’s a bad attitude. When followed by “I’m sorry” it signals you’re not really sorry. You have a reason, a justification, about why you did what you did and you have no iota of intention of changing your behavior or your mindset. In addition and as a general principle, anytime you follow up a statement with a “but” you are negating whatever came before that “but.” Basically, the only proper “but” is “but God.” All other “buts” tend to be ugly and unproductive.
8. “Shame on you.”
Shame is not to be tossed around. That’s the enemy’s job. There is absolutely no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. Jesus came to save the world, not condemn it. For further reference see that verse that comes directly after John 3:16.
9. One of the dozen or so variations of “there’s a bug going around and everyone’s getting it.” This is akin to rolling out the welcome mat. Please! Don’t put out the invitation! You don’t want to get it, so why empower it by making even the slightest allowance for it? You don’t have to “get” it – It’s not a gift, please, don’t have to receive it. Even if this means you have to quietly say, “I don’t receive that.” Protect yourself. Don’t allow these words to land on you. If you need further evidence for persuasion, I present the latter words of Esther 7:8: “…Then the king said, “Will he also assault the queen while I am in the house?” As the word left the King’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face.”
10. And finally, any negative word followed by these two most powerful words – “I am.” Made in the image of your Creator, made in the image of the One who first revealed Himself as the (Great) “I am”- these words are potent and must be handled with care. As the highest order of creation, you have been given a great gift – the power of your tongue. Use your tongue and these two words with extreme mindfulness and utmost caution. Because what you attach to “I am” – you are attaching to your identity, your “created being” which has created in the image of the One who created you - and this is the reason these words carry such weight.
But Wait! A bonus Tip!:
11. “I need to…”
Shifting gears here a bit, but let’s tackle three seemingly innocuous words: “I need to…” They seem so benign and they are. In fact, they’re powerless. Yes, you need to do such and such, but what are you actually GOING to do. “I need to” carries no authority, no weight, and no accountability. They accomplish nothing, they effect no change. If you really want to see change in your life, start speaking what you are going to do and what you will do. And watch to see your actions begin to align with your words. The mind body connection is mysterious and marvelous, and now it’s been studied and the effects observed. And there you have it.
I have ten more, but that’s for another day. And likely for paid subscribers. Please consider subscribing if this has blessed you. Godspeed and God bless!
