Tell It Like God Wants It to Be

In Romans 4:17 I read, “[God] speaks of future events with as much certainty as though they were already past.” (TLB)

My words have enormous power. To become a man of faith, I have to change the way I talk. I have to announce it in order to experience it.

Sometimes speaking in faith appears totally foolish, arrogant, and out of touch with reality to people who don’t understand faith. Abraham knew about this. God came to Abram one day and said, “Abram, I’m going to change your name from Abram to Abraham.” Abraham means “the father of a great nation.”

There was only one problem: Abraham was 99 years old, and he had no kids. He was probably ruthlessly ridiculed for his name. But God says we don’t live in the world of human reality. We live in the world of spiritual reality. When I see the world with spiritual eyes, I see it not as it is but as it can be, as it should be, and as God wants it to be.

Romans 4:17 says God “speaks of future events with as much certainty as though they were already past” (TLB). That’s called speaking in faith, I announce it in order to experience it.

Yet I may hear some people say, “I just tell it like it is.” They criticize this and put that down. They can be fairly negative, because there are a lot of reasons in the world to be negative.

That’s one way to do it. But there’s a better way. Instead of telling it like it is, I can tell it like it could be! Telling it like it is has never changed anybody. It only makes people defensive.

For example, I could say to someone, “You’re a lousy father. You don’t spend any time with your kids because your career is more important.” But when I label someone, I reinforce it.

Instead, I could say, “I see in you the potential for greatness. If you let Jesus Christ take control of your life, you won’t be perfect, but you can become a godly man of character that your kids admire.” That’s the kind of talk that motivates change!

Remember, I don’t have to tell it like it is. Tell it like it could be, like it should be, like God wants it to be. Speak it in advance and in faith, and then watch how God works.

In summary, God speaks of future events with as much certainty as though they were already past. My words have enormous power. To become a man of faith, I have to change the way I talk. I have to announce it in order to experience it. Sometimes speaking in faith appears totally foolish, arrogant, and out of touch with reality. God says that I don’t live in the world of human reality, rather I live in the world of spiritual reality. When I see the world with spiritual eyes, I see it not as it is but as it can be, as it should be, and as God wants it to be. Announce it in order to experience it. Instead of telling it like it is, I can tell it like it could be! Telling it like it is has never changed anybody. It only makes people defensive. I could say, “You’re lousy.” But when I label someone, I reinforce it. Instead, say, “I see in you the potential for greatness. If you let Jesus Christ take control of your life, you won’t be perfect, but you can become a godly man of character. That’s the kind of talk that motivates change! So I don’t have to tell it like it is. Rather I should tell it like it could be, like it should be, like God wants it to be. Speak it in advance and in faith, and then watch how God works.

Father, thank you for Your Word and Jesus as my savior and example. You want me and I need you in my life. Please give me Your strength for today and remind me in little ways that I can always believe in, have faith in and can trust you in everything. This includes being the authority for my life, the source of my self-worth and my hope for the future. You have my best interests in mind. So I ask you to help me to embrace the way you’ve made me; my gifting and passions. Help me to serve and fulfill the mission you have in mind for me. 

Father, through your Holy Spirit living in me, help me to tell it like it could, should and the way you want it to be. Help me build others up and not label them. Help them see the potential within themselves.

I ask for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership, my interactions with others, doing well and making a difference in my new job.  I pray these things through you Son Jesus’ name, Amen.