The tongue...a small thing but one that can sure get a person into trouble.  I've "stuck my foot in my mouth" any number of times.  I've hurt whenever I've thought I've hurt someone else by my lack of tact.

Life is made up of more than tactless remarks.  Charles Capps in his bestseller book The Tongue: A Creative Force shows us how what we say can affect us in both good and bad ways.  Reading this book has been a convicting experience for me.  Recently I've heard a number of sermons and lectures on the power of the tongue.  Oft quoted is Proverbs 18:21 that life and death is in the power of the tongue.  I like the way it reads in the NLT version .


Capps supports the idea that our life is nourished or destroyed by what we say--yes, by the words that come out of our mouth.  Testimony of the power of words was first given in the Bible beginning with creation when God spoke the earth into being.  The conception of Christ was prophesied for many years before Mary agreed with the angel who told her a baby would be born to her, a Virgin.  She wondered how but upon receiving the explanation, she said "So be it."  Just think how history would have been changed if she'd objected.  I don't think God would have forced the pregnancy containing His Son off on an unwilling mother.

Many scriptures speak of the tongue.  Do a word search.  Psalms and Proverbs are full of nuggets of how the mouth can be an asset or hindrance.  Positive words bolster the faith.  Not only faith in God but faith in ourselves.  By reading this book, I've come to realize how much negativity is still in my life; I've been listening to what comes out of my mouth and it isn't all positive. Much of what is said comes out of the heart.  I want my heart to be expressing Joy, not defeatism.  With the Lord's help, I can defeat this tendency.  

Capps made an excellent point on p. 36.  "Either your spirit or your body is going to dominate you.  And when you're born again, your spirit is supposed to dominate the body."  He goes on to say that most of the time, we fail to act on what we know.  Moreover, what we know should be God-led.

If we are led by God, then we should speak what he tells us into our lives.  What does Capps mean by "speaking out?"  Just that...saying the words out loud. He gives examples of this from his own life to support the power of words.  When spoken out, words are like seeds.  They are planted in your heart as you say them.  Others who hear absorb them; lives may be changed.

There are many scriptures that can be spoken out.  We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Philippians 4:13 .  Jesus said that with faith, whatever we say can indeed come to pass.  Matthew 21:21 (Note:  This doesn't mean that you indiscriminately say things and they'll happen.  However, Capps does show many ways in which thoughtless words can affect others--and positive words that can help someone.)

Capps gives lots of proof to back up what he says.  He uses scripture, psychology and real life  examples.  His examples give us the practical application of how we can apply these things in our lives.  Since we are followers of the Word, we should believe scripture is for us. Therefore, we can take scriptures and speak them out as positive affirmations.  As we do this, they will be planted in our hearts and become an encouragement.  They'll also be there to pull out and "stand on" during times of adversity when all we have is trust in God.  Pages 151-159 give sample prayers/affirmations to aid our understanding of this "technique."   Examples from these pages are:

"I will fear no evil for thou art with me Lord, your word and your Spirit they comfort me." ( Psalm 23:4 ) p. 151

"I will trust in the Lord with all of my heart, and I lean not unto my own understand."
( Proverbs 3:5 ) p. 155

Words can not describe how convicted I was by reading The Tongue: A Creative Force.  I felt like I suddenly saw some of what's been wrong in my life.   So...what more can I say?

Back cover:
Words are the most powerful things in the Universe
The words you speak will either put you over in life or hold you in bondage.  Many people have been held captive in their circumstances by their own words.  The absence of God's Word in your life will rob you of faith in His ability.

Receive from God
Put yourself in a position to receive God's best for you by speaking His Word.  God's creative power is still just as it was in the beginning of time, when He stood there and said, "Light -- be," and light was.  His Word spoken from your mouth and conceived in your heart becomes a spiritual force releasing His ability within you.

Creative Power in You
Man was created in the image of God and His likeness.  Learn to speak His faith-filled words to your situation and see your life transformed.  Allow God's creative power to flow from you.

I have told my people they can have what they say, but my people are saying what they have.