Figs, Words, and Joy

I've been thinking about the power of our words, as you know. And no one understood the power of belief coupled with words more than Jesus. I was thinking about the scripture that says the tongue has the "power of life and death".

Remember that story in Matthew (chapter 21) where Jesus had been healing people as usual and, after a long day, decided to head out of the city to go stay with his friends in Bethany. On the way back into the city the next morning he was hungry, so he saw a fig tree and went to get a few figs, but it was just leafy...no figs, no fruit.

So he cursed it, saying something like: "May you never bear fruit again!" And immediately the tree withered, so much so that the disciples were shocked. How could Jesus make a tree wither just with his words? So they asked him, "How could the tree shrivel up so quickly?"

Jesus said, "I tell you the truth (aha...I may be onto something here...he said this is the truth), if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to this fig tree, but you can also say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."

By this time, you'd think the guys would have gotten it. I mean, by now, they've seen Jesus walk on water, be transfigured into a being of light, feed thousands upon thousands of people with nothing more than a couple of pieces of bread and fish, healed countless people of debilitating diseases, even raised his friend from the dead! Not only that, but by now, the disciples have gone out on their own like Jesus told them to and did the very same things (see Matthew 10). But like me, they sometimes let life get in the way.

I find it interesting how many times Jesus says to someone he is healing, "Okay, you're healed as much as you believe it in your heart." Or "Take heart, your faith has healed you." Or "according to your faith, it will be done to you." hmmmm. I think I'm catching on. What I believe in my heart will be reality for me. So what if I say things to myself like, "No one will ever love you. You're ugly, how could anyone ever love you? Or you'll never succeed?" Whatever I think and believe in my heart will become reality. Romans 10 says that it is with our hearts that we believe and are justified (as in, it becomes reality), and it is with our mouths that we confess and are saved. But you can read the whole chapter for yourself. It is amazing!

So what kinds of things do I really believe about myself? What kinds of things am I saying to myself daily? If I want good stuff in my life, I have to change the way I think. If I want healthy, loving relationships with friends and family, I have to change what I say to myself and to others. If I live in fear that I will be alone for the rest of my life, guess what? Rather than the opposite happening, no matter how I fight it, I will fulfill my own prophesy! So if I want to be productive and bear good fruit, I have to change my thinking, what I say to myself, and my words to others. I love that saying:" Change your mind. Change your Life. Change your world."

Jesus said it like this in Matthew (12:33-37)- "Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. You brood of evil vipers (OUCH!), how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that men will have to give an account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."

OUCH! OUCH! OUCH! I think he just called me a snake in the grass! uh-oh. I think he's right. How many times have my words been like venom? Hoo-boy. Okay, so then what are the good things I should store up in my heart/mind? Maybe instead of thinking things like "no one wants me" or "I just can't seem to get a break" or "my life is going nowhere", I can start replacing those thoughts with things like "God became human just like me so he could rescue me from myself. God loves me. The Bible says I have everything I need in Christ for life and godliness. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. All things are possible to him who believes. God says he has a plan for my life; a plan to do me good and to cause me to prosper, plans for a future and a hope. He says he sets the lonely in families. He says he's close to the broken hearted. He says he already healed me 2,000 years ago when Jesus took that brutal beating before he died on the cross. He says anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame! He says he richly blesses EVERYONE who calls on him."

Now those are some good thoughts! Powerful thoughts. And if Jesus was telling the truth, then as I meditate on good thoughts and fill my heart with good words, I'll start speaking good words, and I'll begin (with God's help) to create a new reality. I won't say that I'm unemployed or sick or "Sure I have these degrees, but I can't find a job." Instead, I'll begin to say and believe that God is opening a door for me that no man can shut. I'll begin to say things like, "Well, I've made some plans and I'm trusting God to guide me and lead me to a better path."

What if you say, "well, that's all good for you, but I just can't believe that. I hate myself, my life." There's good news! Romans 10:17 says that "faith comes by hearing the message and the message is heard through the word of Christ." That's what is so great! If you hear something long enough, you will believe it! So we can start by saying things to ourselves like, " I am loved and loveable."

Look in the mirror, give it your cheesiest, lounge lizard inflection, wink at yourself and say, "You are loved and loveable." It has to make you smile! You feel silly doing it. So what? Have you ever met a person who isn't afraid of looking silly? They ooze confidence and we can't help but like them! So bring out the silly, laugh with yourself, and begin to embrace the words that will set you free!

And now I can walk in joy, knowing that God is in control and he won't abandon me. He has given me all the tools I need to succeed. Now I can laugh at my old way of thinking and be more. More alive, more compassionate, more joyful, more loving, more productive, more thankful, more peaceful, more gracious, more enthusiastic! More of everything God intended me to be in the first place.

Who knows? Maybe we'll all change our names to "Joy" or to "Isaac" which means "laughter". Because Isaac was the fulfillment of a promise of God to Abraham and Sarah. They were over a hundred years old when "Laughter" was finally born to them. Abraham held on to hope, he believed in his heart, and he prophesied (spoke powerfully) the birth of his son. The end result was "Laughter"!

Here's one last good thought to hang on to, "weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning!" Hang on! Joy is coming to you! Say it till you believe it. Then say it again! Today's mantra: When I least expect it, I'll be surprised by joy.