Ephesians 4:29

“Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”

 

Blessings and curses are binding agreements in the spirit. It’s like writing up a legal document in the spirit and signing it. When we speak a blessing or a curse over a person or ourselves, they can have consequences—good or bad—in the lives of those they have been spoken to.  

You may have someone you admire tell you the things they love about you. They may encourage you by letting you know they see great potential in a particular area of your life. It might encourage you to keep pursuing or growing in that direction. Life-giving words help you press through the difficult seasons to get to the good ones. Or the opposite may occur. If you repeatedly hear from people that you’ll never amount to anything or you’re not good at something, over time you may begin to believe them. It can change the way you see yourself and what you believe you’re capable of.

I’m a boy mom. When my sons were little, they had LOTS of energy. They were great kids, they just needed to move a lot. In fact, there was a period of time where my husband and I wondered if they were capable of simply walking. They would bounce, run, jump, and climb everywhere we went. For the most part, it was entertaining even though it was tiring. I remember people watching us would frequently say things like, “Just wait until they’re teenagers. That’s when the real trouble begins.” I really disliked when people said that. Every time those words were spoken to me, my reply would be, “They’re going to be amazing teenagers. I am going to love that season.” Guess what? They are wonderful and the teenage years have been my favorite season of parenting by far! I broke agreement with the “curse” they were speaking, and instead, spoke a blessing over my sons’ future, and mine!

When we hear a negative word repetitively spoken over us, it’s like the enemy taking a sharp stick and poking us with it again and again in the same place. The first time it stings a little. We may resist at first. But then it begins to hurt until it pierces the skin and you start to bleed. If we don’t break agreement with the lie, eventually, we start to believe it and it punctures through to our heart. 

The way we talk about our circumstances matters, too. Are we asking God what he says about our situation or are we taking the words and opinions of men as the final truth? Sometimes, in the name of “being practical” or “realistic,” we speak curses because we are looking at the situation through the lens of what man is capable of and not listening to what God has to say about it. We don’t see how in our human understanding something could turn out differently. Inadvertently, we excuse God from the equation and forgo what could be our blessing (healing, deliverance, restoration…). Just because we can’t see how to fix a marriage doesn’t mean God can’t do it. Just because we can’t imagine a prodigal returning home doesn’t mean that has to be their future. Just because a doctor gives a grim diagnosis doesn’t mean God can’t heal. Our words and our thoughts matter. 

 

  • We want to use our words to edify and be a blessing.
  • We want our words to encourage and build others up.
  • We want our words to come into agreement with God and his word.
  • As chosen sons and daughters of God, we want our words to be a good witness.

 

We can use our words to bring blessing and freedom through how we pray. When we claim the name of Jesus, he puts his power behind our words to change things. What seems impossible becomes attainable. Jesus gave us some powerful examples of what our words can accomplish. He cursed the fig tree for not bearing fruit out of season and it withered and died. He blessed people with his words to heal, deliver, and set people free. As we fast and pray, let us submit our tongues to the Lord and ask him to help us keep our words in check so we are using them in alignment with his will and his purposes.

Listening Prayer: 

Holy Spirit, how do you want me to bless others with my words today? How do you want me to pray for the people and the needs in front of me today? What “curses” do I need to break agreement with that I have believed? Are there any “curses” I have spoken, knowingly or unknowingly, that you want me to break agreement with and renounce? Pray as the Holy Spirit directs.

Prayer: 

Lord, I recognize words have power. I confess that there have been times when I have been careless with my words and have spoken things I should not have said. Lord, I want my words to be a blessing. Help me to be careful with my words. Teach me how to use my words to encourage, edify, and bring hope. Help me to be in alignment with you. Give me eyes to see circumstances and people the way you do and to speak according to what you show me. May my words be filtered through your love and care. I give you my mouth to be used as your instrument. Purify my lips that they may glorify you. In Jesus name, Amen.

 

Resource: Bible Verse on Our Words: Blessings and Curses

Matthew 12:34b-37

“For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

 

James 3:8-10

“But no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.  With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.”

 

Luke 6:27-28

“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.”

 

Psalm 19:14

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”

 

Proverbs 12:17-18

“Whoever speaks the truth gives honest evidence, but a false witness utters deceit. There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”

 

Proverbs 18:20-21

“From the fruit of a man’s mouth his stomach is satisfied; he is satisfied by the yield of his lips. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.”

 

Matthew 18:18-20

“Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”