Words are very powerful. They’re used to communicate, they’re used to instruct, they’re used to command, they’re used to comfort, they’re used to express emotion. They’re used for everything. A centurion in the Bible understood the power of a word. He had a servant who was paralyzed and he asked Jesus to speak a word, and he believed that his servant would be healed by that word. Unlike others who have asked Jesus to do something for someone they love to be healed, this centurion asked Jesus to simply say something.
Isaiah 55:11 says “so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it” (ESV). God’s Word is so powerful that it accomplishes the intent for which it is sent. As humans sometimes we tend to speak aimlessly, but God doesn’t speak without aim. Every word He speaks carries intent. And the centurion had an understanding of this so he asked Jesus to just say a word for his servant to be well. And that’s exactly what happened.
As Mental Health Awareness month comes to a close and I wrap up this series, I want to touch on the power of the words we both speak and agree with. Just as we were made in the image of God to speak, our words hold power. Proverbs 18:21 says “death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit (NKJV). What words do you speak over yourself? Are they of life or death?
The centurion understood the power of a word because he himself used words in his authority and he saw the evidence of what he spoke. In Matthew 8:9 he says “…having soldiers under me…I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes” (NKJV). Similarly, as Believers we have been given authority as sons and daughters of God, and the words we both speak and come into agreement with hold power. If you believe the word that God cares for you, you will live like it. If you believe the word that God is with you, you will live like it. So when faced with anxiety, what word do you believe? When faced with fear, what word do you believe? When faced with doubt, what word do you believe? Your words hold power and what you speak and believe can shape the state of your mental health.
The centurion believed that Jesus was a healer. He probably heard about the works of Jesus and believed in Him from what he heard. In Matthew 8:8, the centurion says “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof,” meaning he knew who Jesus was, and in that same verse he says “But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed…” meaning he knew what Jesus was capable of. Verse 13 then says “Then Jesus said to the centurion, ‘Go your way and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.’ And his servant was healed that same hour.” The centurion heard a word, believed, and it was so. Jesus didn’t need to lay hands on the servant, or be in the same proximity to the servant, He simply needed to say a word. And the centurion didn’t need to do anything else but believe. This story has two lessons, there is both power in a word, and there is power in our agreement of that word. The words we agree with plant seeds in our hearts that shape our belief, that’s why it’s so important that we speak life over our minds.
Earlier this year I read the book “God Wants You Well” by Pastor Andrew Wommack and it renewed my mind on God’s desire for our healing and wholeness. Throughout this series the goal has been to show that God wants us to live abundant lives including in our mental health. In the waiting season, or in that difficulty you’re experiencing God is right there with you wanting you to be well. He’s not standing idle by through the challenges we face, but He also hasn’t left us ill-equipped without tools that we can use during the challenges. One of those tools is our words. In chapter 17 of the book, “God Wants You Well,” Andrew Wommack breaks down the power of what we say, and the power of our agreement with what God has said. He said “Release life with your words. Speak the Word of God. His Word will become life and health to all [your] flesh” (p.151) and he points to Proverbs 4:20-22 which says “My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh” (NKJV).
So in closing, here are five scriptures you can refer to that you can use to speak over yourself and remind you of who God is.
Isaiah 53:5—”But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes [I am] healed.“
1 Peter 5:7 —”Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for [me].“
Romans 15:13 —”May the God of hope fill [me] with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit [I] may abound in hope.”
Matthew 6:31-34—”So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear? These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but [my] heavenly Father already knows all [my] needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give [me] everything [I] need. So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.“
Matthew 11:28-30—”Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Remember, use your words and speak life!
This piece concludes the mental health fridays blog series. I hope and pray that it blessed you!
Until next time,
BeautyOluwa
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