Life or Death, What Do You Say?

The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences. - Proverbs 18:21 (NLT)

I saw a post on social media that sparked this testimony/post today. Pastor Bill Winston talked about rejecting negative conversations, especially concerning our health, in that post. He said his father got angry with him because he refused to accept his father, saying he would have the same affliction when he got his age.

I was diagnosed with COPD - which stands for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. It is a chronic lung disease that makes it difficult to breathe. It's caused by damage to the lungs that reduces airflow. I received this diagnosis after the Lord saved me in 2004 after a routine chest x-ray. At first, it knocked me down.

I Told The Lord I Trusted Him

My doctor sent me to a cardio-pulmonary treatment clinic. I would receive the treatments, but out-of-pocket expenses would've been about $150.00 a month. The amount shocked me, and I left. I told them I would be back. When I got outside, I asked the Lord to forgive me for lying because I had no intention of going back. I told the Lord I trusted Him.

From that day forward, I wouldn't say I had COPD. I would say, "They say I have COPD." The Lord delivered me from the nicotine addiction I had. The Lord helped me to quit smoking cigarettes by, as some say, cold turkey without any assistance from gum or patches. I was cheap. When I saw how much the smoking cessation items cost, I walked out of Walgreens and never went back for that.

Fast forward to around 2009. I got very sick with a cold that I couldn't seem to get rid of. I started coughing up blood. I told the Lord that I trusted Him, and if I were still coughing up blood the next morning, I would go to the doctor. Well, I was coughing up blood the next morning, but not as bad as the day before. I told the Lord whatever it was, I trusted Him, and He would get the glory out of it all.

I went to the doctor, and she ordered an x-ray. I told her about what other doctors said about COPD. She returned and said, "I see where you used to smoke. But there isn't any COPD showing up!"

Bind Up Negative Talk Before It Takes Root

It's a long story to say that we must watch what comes out of our mouths and what other people say about us. The tongue is the deadliest weapon there is, and it can cause many problems and even destroy your faith. So when someone speaks something other than what God has ordained, you be quick to denounce it, bind it up, and send it back to hell. Bind up negative talk before It takes root!

Just because your relatives had it doesn't mean you will. Just because other people died from it doesn't mean you have to. Speak life in the atmosphere! Speak the word of God in situations where the devil is trying to destroy you and others with lies.

Life or death, what do you say?

You have a choice. Speak life, or speak death. It's up to you. I had a chance to either agree with the diagnosis or trust God and disagree with the diagnosis.