What Are You Preaching to Yourself?

Can faith grow?

For many years I assumed that faith grew primarily by reading the Word and meditating on it. While those things are essential, I have come to see that faith grows when it is exercised. As we act upon what God has said, faith becomes stronger. We become more confident in who we are in Christ, and fear begins to lose its grip on our lives. Recently the Lord showed me something that has given me a fresh perspective.

The Power of Our Words

What I confess with my lips affects how my spirit responds. My words reveal whether I am operating in faith or unbelief, and they reveal what I truly believe about God. My words either honor Him or they give place to the enemy. That is a sobering thought.

Most of us understand the effect that other people's words can have on our lives. We know what it feels like to be encouraged, criticized, strengthened, or torn down by what someone says. Yet we often overlook the fact that our own words can have the same effect. How many times have I told myself that I am not enough? How many times have I questioned my calling, doubted God's leading, or assumed something would never work out? Those words were not producing faith. They were producing weakness, discouragement, and disappointment.

When we continually speak about our failures, our weaknesses, our sicknesses, our financial lack, or our impossible circumstances, we can unknowingly train our hearts to expect defeat. But what if God is greater than every one of those things? What if His strength is greater than my weakness, His provision greater than my lack, and His promises greater than my circumstances? "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31).

Faith Is Not Striving

The Lord also reminded me of something I have wrestled with for years. There is a difference between faith and trying to make something happen.

I have seen how easy it is to fall into a "name it and claim it" mindset. Sometimes what appears to be faith is actually a desire that originates in the soul rather than in the Spirit. We can convince ourselves that if we say something enough times it will become reality. But faith does not originate in my desires. Faith originates in God. It is not pretending something is true; it is agreeing with what God has already said is true.

The Lord showed me that as long as I am trying to get something from Him, I am not resting in faith. Faith does not strive. Faith thanks. Faith says, "Thank You, Father." Faith praises before it sees because it trusts the One who promised.

Finding Faith in the Word

How do I know what to believe? I find it in His Word. When I discover His promise and act upon it, I come into agreement with Him. My perspective begins to change. I stop viewing life through the lens of my fears and begin seeing it through His faithfulness.

Another thing I have realized is how often we preach the wrong message to ourselves. Many believers spend their days preaching law, failure, and condemnation to their own hearts. We become sin conscious instead of Christ conscious. Faith cannot flourish in an atmosphere of condemnation.

Paul wrote, "For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord" (2 Corinthians 4:5). That is the message that brings life. That is the message that removes the veil. That is the message that ministers the Spirit rather than death.

Authorized and Sent

Recently the Lord brought Matthew 28:18-19 alive to me in a new way. When I began sharing online a few months ago, I often questioned whether anything I said could truly impact another person. I doubted myself, criticized myself, and wondered whether any of it mattered.

Then I saw something I had overlooked. Jesus has already authorized and commissioned His people. I have been sent. I have been empowered by Him with wisdom, grace, strength, and love. This ministry is not dependent upon my ability. It exists for His glory, and His Word will not return void.

"So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void" (Isaiah 55:11).

That realization changed something in me. I am no longer trying to claim a ministry. I am believing what God has already spoken. I am thanking Him for what He is doing and praising Him for His faithfulness.

A Final Thought

Faith is not striving to obtain what God has promised. Faith is agreeing with Him, resting in His Word, and responding with thanksgiving and praise. When we preach Christ to ourselves, speak in agreement with His promises, and trust His faithfulness, faith grows not because we are trying harder, but because we are learning to see from His perspective.