Can Words Change Reality? Apparently So.
Sometimes when we talk the future shifts, and afterwards things are never quite the same. Examples abound. I say something I instantly regret and watch coldness come into an interaction. You speak to the hurt behind a friend’s anger and tears roll down their cheeks, new trust develops, and a deeper friendship forms.
Words change reality all the time. Especially God’s words.
When God speaks things happen. Remarkable things. Every time God opens His mouth His words change reality. Look at the creation account in Genesis 1:
- 1:3 God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light
- 1:6 God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters” 1:7…and it was so
- 1:9 God said, “Let the waters below the heavens be gathered into one place, and let the dry land appear”; and it was so
- 1:11 God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation … and it was so
- 1:14 God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens … 1:15 …and it was so
- 1:24 God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures …and it was so
- 1:26 God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness … 1:27 And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
- 1:29 God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant…and every tree which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you; 1:30…and it was so.
It Doesn’t Stop with Creation
God’s words have impact. They vibrate with power. No wishy-washy speech ever comes out of His mouth. Not ever. As creation shows, each time God speaks something new springs into being and things never before seen appear. It’s astonishing … and it doesn’t stop with creation.
Two hundred and ninety-three times in the Old Testament – from the law to the histories to the prophets – we find the Hebrew phrase “Thus says the LORD.” 293 times! Most people skip right over that phrase and never realize it means that God is actually talking to us. (He wants to change our reality.)
Then there’s Jesus (also known as the WORD of God – John 1:1). True, you and I can’t gather on a mountain and hear Him deliver a sermon, but we can read what He said. We should, for (when believed) Jesus’ words change our reality. They bring into our lives things never before seen: new yearnings, new thoughts, new choices, new hope.
And the Holy Spirit? He speaks to us as well and guides us into the truth that, as Jesus says, sets us free. (John 16:13 and John 8:31-32)
Physical Changes Aren’t the Whole Story
When God speaks, physical reality changes. At creation an Edenic world comes into being. In the Gospels Jesus speaks and sick bodies get well. The deaf hear. The blind see. The lame walk. A dead Lazarus walks out of his tomb.
But physical miracles, while real, aren’t the whole story. Physical miracles signal spiritual miracles. Time-bound changes signal eternal changes. The spiritually deaf hear God’s words sound in their heart; blinded minds see that Jesus’ claims to be God are true; those stumbling through life learn to walk a wiser, more fruitful path ; the spiritually dead enter life that lasts forever. All because God’s words change reality – in both physical and spiritual realms.
But What About Now?
God words continue to change reality: our reality. What God says never comes back to Him without successfully accomplishing what He desires (Isaiah 55:11). So when you read “God said … and it was so,” don’t limit that phrase to the long-ago creation of the world. Apply it to the current creation of new ways of life … here, and now, and in you.
Explore Your Own Beliefs and Behaviors
- Do you think God’s words have power create new thoughts, desires, and choices? Is there a particular area in your life where you want this to happen?
- What would you like God to say to your heart?
- God’s made sure His words were written down in the bible for our use. Would you be willing ask Him to use those words to change your reality? (As you get familiar with what He’s already said in the bible, He’ll often use what you’ve learned to remind you how He sees reality.)
- Have you ever watched words (yours or God’s) change another person’s awareness of reality?
Can Words Change Reality? Apparently So.
© Lynne Fox, 2017
biblegrapes.com
I agree.
Thanks for the reminder and encouraging us to pay attention to the reality in which we abide. I want my reality to be drenched with God’s creative energy for goodness and glory.
Vicky, I write thesse things because I need to remind myself as well. Thanks for your thanks! You encourage me.