When I was a youth growing up, I didn’t always appreciate hearing, “So, what do you have to say for yourself?” I usually heard those words when called to account for something I had done, and those situations were not always positive. However, recently I have been delighted by the same question. Because I have learned that what I say really matters, I delight in speaking, not just in the face of accusation, but also in the face of opportunity.

  Proverbs 18:21 says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” So, I decided that I’m going to use its power to my advantage. Since I’m going to speak anyhow, I might as well speak well and bring good rather than evil to myself. If God has given me that kind of power to control the fruit I engender in my life I ought to hold myself accountable and responsible to do it properly.

  Now I refuse to get on my own case in a negative manner, I have an adversary that is quite proficient in the category of accusation. The accuser always seems to have something to say, but I refuse to agree with him. I’d rather agree with God and speak that which will bring life instead of death.

  Have you read Genesis chapter one recently? God spoke the creation back into its proper arrangement after it had been without form and void. God “spoke it into being,” so to speak. What about you and I? What do we speak into being in our lives? What do we have to say for ourselves?

  We are supposed to be imitators of God as dear children. Now, I’m aware that none of us are God. We do not create anything. I still cannot deny that God has put in our control the awesome power of the tongue. When what we speak is the truth, and when that truth is spoken in love, what a difference it can make in our lives.
Whether speaking of the creation or of things yet to come, God told Isaiah how He would speak it before He did it.

  What do you see in God’s Word that you want to see come to pass in your life? Speak it forth boldly! What do you have to lose? Our adversary wants to keep our mouths shut. He does not want us to declare God’s Word. He’d love nothing more than to stop us from receiving the things God wants us to have.

  Don’t stop… never stop… don’t stop speaking God’s Word. DON”T STOP SPEAKING! The first century church prayed for themselves that they would speak with boldness. You can bet they followed through and did it.

  As you speak, don’t forget to use the name of Jesus Christ. Keep his name on your lips, and the reality of God in Christ in you, in your hearts. You know, God’s Word never returns void.

  God wants His people to start talking and not stop. He wants us saying what He says about us. He wants us to speak the truth in love. So now, what do you have to say for yourself?