Bitter Words: A 7-Day Word FastSample

You Have Life to Give

“Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit – you choose.” When reading the book of Ezekiel, this verse from Proverbs 18:21 often comes to mind.

God gave Ezekiel an assignment that required him to learn how to disciple his mouth. As a result, the book of Ezekiel is filled with periods of both silence and speech.

God thrust Ezekiel into a season where he had to be silent for 13 years (Ezekiel 3:26 - 33:22). Later, God placed him in a season where he had to learn to be precise and prudent with his words (Ezekiel 33:1 – 39:1). In other words, God placed Ezekiel on a word diet. Ezekiel had to take certain words out of his daily speech regimen. He also had to add certain words to his daily meal plan. When he arrived at a level of mastery with using his words, he began to experience spiritual acceleration. The miracles and manifestation of God’s power in Ezekiel 37 are the results of Ezekiel becoming healthier and more disciplined with his word usage.

The unique thing is that God placed Ezekiel in the middle of a valley where things were dry, dying, and hopeless. In taking Ezekiel to the next dimension in his life, God instructed him to prophesy and speak life to everything that previously perished.

There are two lessons in this passage:

1. God will use the valleys in your life to hold your potential accountable.

2. God won’t always do for you what he has already equipped you to do for yourself.

God took Ezekiel to a valley and instructed him to do something he had never experienced before. God did this because the valleys in our lives are often where our greatest ministry will be born. The valleys are where potential becomes a reality.

God also instructed Ezekiel to do something God could have done by Himself. However, God wanted to teach us that He won’t always heal and change what He has already given us the power, intellect, and gift to change ourselves through positive, uplifting words.

Ezekiel spoke life to what was dead. That is important because when you’re in the valley and around unhappy circumstances, you will be tempted to use words that reflect your conditions.

How will you begin speaking life into the things and people around you? What is your plan of execution?

Prayer: God, thank you for every valley in my life. Thank you for every fig tree you’ve sent my way. Thank you for helping me to regulate my emotions. Thank you for removing gossip from the vocabulary of my heart. Thank you for healing my complaining spirit. As I begin to close out this fast, continue to challenge me to steward my words better. I thank you for walking with me and for revealing yourself to me. Let this become the beginning of greater discipline in my life. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.

Did this Plan encourage you? Connect with Issac Curry and Without Walls. We’d love to get to know you better. https://www.issaccurry.com