(Yes, you really do need to read Part One!)

The problem with all of the words I used was that they did not agree with the written Word of God. If I was going to start to harness the power of my tongue for good instead of evil, I had to start telling the devil to shut up and I had to start putting God's Words on my tongue.

How do we do that? It starts with "renewing our minds" with the Word of God according to Romans 12:2. The New Living Translation puts it like this: "Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is."

God wants to change the way that you think! He wants us to stop listening to the devil and his lies and start filling our minds with the Word of God! If we do this, if we allow God to "wash our minds" with the Word, we will soon find that the words on our lips will change too.

This doesn't happen overnight. It takes commitment on your part to give God time everyday to saturate your mind and spirit with His Word. However, while we are working on that, some cheat sheets will help!

A friend of mine has mastered the art of "sticky notes". She has placed scriptures about God's will for her family all around her house. You cannot brush your teeth or wash a dish or grab a coat to leave without seeing what God has to say about you.

I encourage you to do something similar. For me, it's three by five index cards.

When I notice an area of my life that is suffering I take an inventory of my words in that area. I will usually find that I am speaking negative about it in some way. I repent of the negativity and ask God to renew my mind in this area of my life. Then I turn to His Word and search for scriptures that apply to it and write them on the index cards, only I re-word them as a "positive confession."

For example:

Problem: Guilt about the past is keeping me from sharing my testimony with others.

What the devil is saying to me about it: "You have no right to tell people that they need God, you are worse than any of them! Nobody wants to hear what you have to say. God can't use you!"

Applicable Scriptures: Romans 8:1: "Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."
Ephesians 5:8 "For though your hearts were once full of darkness, now you are full of light from the Lord, and your behavior should show it!"

My Index Card: "There is no condemnation for me because I am in Christ Jesus. The past is in the past and I have been forgiven. My mess is now my message. My test is now my testimony. I will share how God has brought me out of darkness into the light."

Now I will use this index card as a tool and speak that positive confession out as many times as I feel led to do so until it comes out naturally without a reminder.

I have made more than fifty index cards in the last three or four years. I still write out new ones as God leads me. Sometimes it is not that I am speaking something evil, sometimes I am just silent when I should be proclaiming God's Word every chance I get! If there is a promise in God's Word that I do not see coming true in my life - I need to start speaking it!

Now, if I were to take notes about my conversations nowadays, you would see something like this:

I am a child of God.
I am precious to Him.
I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
I am patient, kind, loving, slow to anger and quick to listen.
I can honor my Mom no matter how bad things have been in the past.
I am healed in the name of Jesus!
Sickness and disease have no power over me!
I will die one day and be with Jesus but it will be in His perfect timing!
My children listen to me and to God's voice.
If it is God's will for me to marry, He will bring me the right man.
I am beautiful.
So and so is also a precious child of God.
So and so is trying the best they can.
So and so is deserving of my love.

You know, just as improving the words that you say about yourself is of the utmost importance, it is also critical that you take an inventory of the words that you speak about others. Your husbands, your kids, your friends, neighbors, co-workers, employers, president... When you have any person for a light snack with complaints and criticism you are in agreement with the devil and your words will help the devil work destruction in their lives.

Think about it. I pray that you will be writing a few index cards about the value of the people in your lives too!

Okay, here is my big technical disclaimer. I am not saying that all you have to do to make your life better is to talk better. Words are not coins in the big slot machine in the sky. You are not "rubbing the bottle" and making the genie god do your will. When you start putting God's Word on your lips, you are getting into agreement with God about His will for your life. And that can only have a positive impact because God says that His Word never returns to him without accomplishing what He sent it out to do.

Father God, Please lead me through Your Word and show me the scriptures that I need to memorize and speak. Please lead me by Your Holy Spirit and help me not to get into dead works in this area. I want my mind to be renewed by Your Word and I want the words of my mouth to be pleasing to You. Help me to speak positive, affirming words to the people around me as well. In Jesus Name, Amen.