Change Your Words and Use Them - Adam Houge
Change Your Words and Use Them - Adam Houge
Change Your Words and Use Them - Adam Houge
The Collection
TABLE OF CONTENTS
If You Change Your Words It Will Transform Your Life!
Choosing Words That Heal
If You Change Your Words and It Will Transform Your Life™
Copyright © 2014 by Adam Houge
Published by Living Tree Publishing in Harrisonburg, VA
All rights reserved worldwide. Permission is granted for quotations in all manner
of religious assembly.
Portions of the text may be reprinted for use in small groups, church bulletins,
orders of service, Sunday school lessons, church newsletters, and similar works,
in the course of religious instruction, or services at a place of worship or other
religious assembly with the following notice:
If You Change Your Words and It Will Transform Your Life™ by Adam Houge
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by
Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Want Free Books?
From time to time Adam gives away free copies of his new releases. But his
promotions are highly temporary. If you’d like to be notified when he’s giving
his kindle books away for free, please consider signing up at the following link:
GET ADAM’S BOOKS FREE
*****
*****
Also By Adam
The 7 Most Powerful Prayers That Will Change Your Life Forever
The 7 Spiritual Habits That Will Change Your Life Forever
The 7 Habits That Will Change Your Life Forever
Slaying Your Giants: How to Have Massive Faith
How To Memorize the Bible Fast and Easy
Table of Contents
The Healing Tongue
Overcoming the Negative Self-Image
“I’m a failure.”
“I can’t do that.”
“I can’t afford that.”
“I’m fat.”
“I’m worthless.”
“I’m stupid.”
“My life is meaningless.”
Words You Should Consider
Overcoming Negative Thoughts About God’s Capacity
“How can God forgive me?”
“How on earth am I supposed to do that, God?”
“I know that God can provide, and He says He will. But will He really?”
“Why would God do that?”
Words to Consider
Seeing Yourself Through God’s Eyes
Seeing Others Through God’s Eyes
Having Words That Heal
Ignoring Words That Don’t Heal
When Negative Words Are Necessary
I’d Love to Hear from You!
Want Free Books?
Also By Adam Houge
About the Author
The Healing Tongue
The center of every relationship begins with the heart. The mouth communicates
the issues of the heart, thus keeping each relationship connected. If we remain
mindful of this, the words of our mouths ought to be watered with kindness and
grace.
A well-nourished plant is first planted in fertile, loose soil. Then it is watered
sufficiently, and over time it grows and bears fruit. Similarly, our relationships
need to be founded in love and watered with kindness.
Remember that if a man wants friends, he must first be friendly. Every
relationship grows and prospers with the foundation of love. If we want our
relationships to prosper, then we ought to focus on how we communicate our
hearts with others.
Communication is key. Love and trust are foundational to any relationship. We
learn to trust others through the integrity in their communication. And all love
begins with the mouth. For as we stated, the mouth communicates the heart.
Knowing this, we should always be looking for kind words for others. We should
be building them up with the things we say while resisting any negativity.
Negativity should only enter when the Spirit leads us to rebuke. Beyond that, our
words should be filled with love and peace.
Like a kiss on the ear, a beautiful word can truly bless a soul. But a bitter word
can crush a spirit. The words we use can hurt and are often taken seriously by
the one to whom we’re speaking. We ought not be caught saying things we don’t
actually mean but instead express sincerity with the heart of Christ.
In many relationships, words become swords. Friends are parted, and marriages
become broken. There is power in the tongue to give life or tear down. Satan
knows this and uses our own tongues against us through temptation.
Sometimes, in the heat of an argument, we say things we don’t truly mean.
Maybe in our wrath and the temptation of our heart, we did mean it; but after we
think about it, we regret it. A bitter word isn’t worth a broken heart.
If we aren’t mindful of someone else’s state of heart, our words can even kill.
Bitter word after bitter word can lead to a bitter, depressed heart. If we don’t
speak with love, a person won’t feel loved. Then such a person, who’s been torn
down by our mouth, can slip into the depths of depression. Yes, some have even
committed suicide over hurtful words. But if we love one another, we will guard
our tongues to communicate Christ’s true love.
If, then, we are Christ’s, we should show it by both our actions and the way we
communicate. If we are believers, the first fruit of the Spirit should be on
constant display through our words and works. As it is written,
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved
you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My
disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34–35
So let our mouths reflect the love of God in the way we speak to ourselves and
to each other. Build up with your words and choose to have a tongue that heals.
Overcoming the Negative Self-Image
Negative thoughts. Everyone has them about themselves. Here are a few:
“I’m a failure.”
“I can’t do it.”
“I can’t afford that.”
“I’m fat! I’ll never lose weight!”
“I’m worthless.”
“I’m stupid.”
“My life feels meaningless.” “I have no purpose.” “God, why did you bother
making me?” “What am I here for, anyway?”
But what would be the right heart to have when faced with these thoughts?
“I’m a failure.”
You’re not a failure. You’ve made mistakes, but these are lessons learned. The
only failure is when people learn nothing from their mistakes. I once lost $4,000
on an investment. But rather than calling myself a failure, I decided to treat it
like a college course. The tuition to learn that lesson was $4,000. Now, having
paid my dues, I will never make that mistake again.
While there may be times in your life when you feel defeated, they aren’t the
end. So don’t be discouraged! Remember that defeat is merely an opportunity
God has given you to succeed in the future. He’ll make a way for victory if He’s
called you down that path of life. But if He hasn’t called you down that path,
then try to get back on track with His plan for you.
“I can’t do that.”
This is one I hear often, especially when someone was called by God to step out
in faith. But believe it or not, it’s a great place to start! Because when you finally
realize that you can’t do something, it gives God the opportunity to show you He
can. So have faith and let Him work through you.
Sometimes it isn’t a matter of what He’s going to do through you but, rather,
what’s He’s doing now. You need to pray for open eyes to see the work of God in
your life. If He’s called you to do something, don’t say, “God, I can’t do that.”
But ask Him, “How can I do that, Lord?” and He will show you the way.
“I’m fat.”
It’s one of the most self-destructive phrases with which people can attack
themselves. Satan loves to throw this at people to empty them of all God’s joy.
Such people try to lose weight but just can’t seem to do it, so they lose heart and
lose faith, finding that they hate the image in the mirror.
But God has a better plan for you—a plan to heal you and give you a future and
a hope. Did you know that 95 percent of all people who have a weight issue
could do something about it? So unless you have a medical condition barring
you from it, the only thing holding you back is your mindset. God can certainly
also provide a miracle in the midst of a medical condition, however. Nothing is
impossible for Him!
I personally suffered from obesity after developing issues with my heart. At one
moment of my life, I was well, working hard in a factory with a fit, healthy body.
Then, the next moment, my life fell apart. It happened all in one day, when I
collapsed and almost died in my living room. After a ride in an ambulance and
several visits to the ER, as well as to the top hospitals in the state, my life was
changed forever.
The doctors couldn’t figure out what was wrong, and for much of the time they
suspected cancer. At one point I was on four heart pills, and I almost died four
times from my symptoms. So there I was, bed-ridden, praying and hoping for the
best as I wondered where God was and why He was letting me die.
I was about to make my wife a widow, leaving her with no income and three
young children to take care of all on her own. I was devastated, grasping for
hope. Meanwhile, I was gaining weight from lying around so much. But after
several stress-induced seizures, the doctors discovered the source of my
problems.
I had mild brain damage from energy drink poisoning in the areas that controlled
my heart. My symptoms screamed adrenal cancer. But several scans at top-notch
hospitals, multiple tests, and thousands of dollars later, I was finally told I might
have hope. While I was no longer in danger of death, I could no longer function
like a normal human being. Being on four blood-pressure pills and having blood
sugar issues, insomnia, and a heart that didn’t work right, I was left with a recipe
for a miserable life. But the doctor said that if I were to lose some weight, I
might recover.
I was thinking at this point, “Yeah, right … I didn’t gain this weight until after
my medical issue. How could losing weight fix me?” But He reassured me that
being a few points away from morbid obesity was not a good way to recover.
The problem was that my health was so far down the toilet, I couldn’t lose
weight if I wanted to. Yet he insisted that, while exercise may be difficult,
forcing myself to move more could help me heal and stabilize my blood
pressure.
My blood pressure was not caused by my weight, but he felt that it was worth a
shot. I wasn’t sure how this would work since walking across a room could shoot
my heart rate almost as high as 150 beats per minute.
So that night I prayed, and I asked the Lord for a miracle. My heart issue was
definitely going to keep me from losing weight as fast as I needed to. So I asked
for God to amplify the results and then, with faith, applied everything I knew
about healthy dieting and weight loss. I had six weeks until my next
appointment, and my doctor gave me a goal of six pounds to lose. But by the end
of those six weeks, God gave me twenty pounds. Yes, I lost twenty pounds in six
weeks—all with a heart condition, blood sugar issues, insomnia, four heart pills,
and you name it!
Not only did God’s miracle astonish my doctor, but God also overwhelmed me
with a greater blessing: My blood pressure miraculously stabilized, and I was
able to go off of all the medicine. The next couple months were spent talking to
the doctor about what I was going to do with my new life as he tapered me off of
my meds.
God can do anything! There is nothing that can hold you back. What’s
impossible for you is simple for God. So just remember that the power of Jesus
is on your side. All you must do is believe. When the devil tells you you’re fat,
the real question is “What is God telling you?” Listen carefully to the Lord and
believe His words instead.
Say to yourself, “I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me”
(Philippians 4:13). Exercise by faith, believing that God will build your body for
you. As you transform your image, you’ll begin to realize that it requires godly
character to do so. You will need to change your bad habits and replace them
with good habits. No more lusting over that new flavor of cookies. No more
gluttony. Self-control and self-discipline must overtake every other habit. But as
you practice these, you’re actually learning to practice some of the fruits of the
Spirit. As it is written,
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” Galatians
5:22–23
So walk with God while you sweat in faith. Use this circumstance as an
opportunity not only to exercise for fitness but also to exercise yourself toward
godliness. As it is also written,
“But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward
godliness. For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all
things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.” 1
Timothy 4:7–8
While this verse is not about physical exercise, you can use physical exercise for
godly exercise in temperance as you learn to be self-disciplined in Christ.
“I’m worthless.”
Jesus Christ gave His life for you. To God you’re worth more than life itself
because He can’t imagine living life without you. So embrace Him and His plan
for you. Listen to His voice, and He will show you how much of a treasure you
are to Him. As it is written,
“Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then
you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine.”
Exodus 19:5
When you feel as if you’re not worth anything, God is there, loving you through
it all. So why don’t you embrace the one who cares most about you? You may
not mean the world to some people, but God sent His only begotten Son into this
world to die for you. You mean everything to Him. You always have and you
always will.
“I’m stupid.”
‘Stupidity’ can be best defined as knowing the right thing to do but choosing the
wrong thing. If you’ve made mistakes, then pray for God’s strength. Through
Jesus you can do anything! He’ll enable you and send you forward. All that’s
required of you is faith. So it isn’t that any of us are stupid, but that we must
learn to make Jesus our strength in our weakness.
If you feel as if you lack wisdom, then that’s a good place to be. It’s not the right
heart to beat yourself up over it, but it is good to recognize the need for wisdom.
The moment a wise man has said in his heart, “I am wise,” is the day he has
assuredly become a fool. For on that day, he has ceased from seeking wisdom,
and another will soon surpass him.
Grow a hunger for God’s wisdom. Pray for it and search for it with all your
heart, having faith God will give it to you. Even as it is written,
“My son, if you receive my words, and treasure my commands within you, so
that you incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding; yes,
if you cry out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding, if you
seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures; then you will
understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD
gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding…” Proverbs
2:1–6
And as it is also written,
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and
without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no
doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the
wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;
he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” James 1:5–8
Do not doubt! Pray for it and have faith! God intends for you to have wisdom.
“My life is meaningless.”
You have purpose! You are a beautiful, well-thought-out creation of God. You
were made for more than this life can give you. Your purpose is so magnificent
that only God can give it to you.
He created you for the purpose of love—to love Him and be loved by Him. You
were made because He wants a relationship with you. If you focus on that
purpose and press hard into it, suddenly your life has a whole lot more meaning.
So pursue God’s plan for your life. Don’t stop searching for it until you have
found it. If you pray for wisdom to know your place in life, in God’s due time
He will show you what that is. Until then, serve the Lord and worship Him while
you wait for His answer.
Words You Should Consider
So rather than saying, “I’m a failure,” you should say, “God, I submit to Your
plan, and I know that through You all things are possible.”
Rather than “I can’t do that,” you should say, “God can do that!”
Rather than “I can’t afford that,” you should say and believe in your heart, “God
will provide.”
Change “I’m fat” to “I’m a supermodel under construction”—or for men, “I’m a
work of art, but God is still chiseling me.”
Change “I’m worthless” to “God is everything to me, and I am worth everything
to Him.”
Change “I’m stupid” to “Lord, I pray you’ll give me strength and wisdom.”
Change “My life is meaningless” to “My life is defined by Jesus Christ and the
plan He has for me.”
Overcoming Negative Thoughts About God’s Capacity
Doubts—everyone has them from time to time:
“How can God forgive me?”
“Why would God do that?” or “God worked like that in the Bible, but not
anymore.”
“How on earth am I supposed to do that, God?”
“I know that God can provide, and He says He will. But will He really?”
But let’s consider these for a moment.
*****
******
*****
******
About The Author
Adam is a preacher, teacher and Christian author. He is a devoted husband and
father of 3 boys. Through His travels he’s seen the need for a new awakening
and a new revival: A revival of the heart. Come join Adam on this journey of
redemption and experience God like never before!
Table of Contents
If You Change Your Words It Will Transform Your Life!
Choosing Words That Heal
The Healing Tongue
Overcoming the Negative Self-Image
“I’m a failure.”
“I can’t do that.”
“I can’t afford that.”
“I’m fat.”
“I’m worthless.”
“I’m stupid.”
“My life is meaningless.”
Words You Should Consider
Overcoming Negative Thoughts About God’s Capacity
“How can God forgive me?”
“How on earth am I supposed to do that, God?”
“I know that God can provide, and He says He will. But will He really?”
“Why would God do that?”
Words to Consider
Seeing Yourself Through God’s Eyes
Seeing Others Through God’s Eyes
Having Words That Heal
Ignoring Words That Don’t Heal
When Negative Words Are Necessary
I’d Love to Hear from You!
Want Free Books?
Also By Adam Houge
About the Author
Introduction. 1
Bitter Words, Bitter Heart 1
Chapter One. 1
Words That Gives Life 1
Chapter Two. 1
Healing With Positive Words 1
Chapter Three. 1
Healing With Negative Words 1
Chapter Four. 1
The Battleground of the Tongue 1
I’d Love To Hear From You. 1
Also By Adam Houge. 1
About The Author. 1