“Whoooa Nelly!” I playfully exclaimed as I lifted my daughter into her carseat.

“Whoa Nelly!” She mimicked and laughed. She is almost three years old – at the stage that repeating almost everything is fun.

I wonder if she said that at school what the reaction would be. What does that actually mean? My daughter doesn’t know that phrase was originally a command to slow a horse down, and I had to think about it.

How much do we say and repeat without knowing or thinking about the true meaning? We don’t readily think about the words we say can affect our life.

Song lyrics, gossip, things said out of emotions (anger, hurt, lust, fear, frustration, insecurity…), what we say about ourselves and more can produce undesirable results if we do not monitor and choose our words with care.

I thought about how appalled my older sisters were when they heard me singing Madonna’s “Like a Virgin” at the top of my lungs when I was five years old. They admonished me not to sing that song and at the time I didn’t understand why. But I honored them and trusted their love for me, so I stopped.

Now I’m not being silly and being literal about “whoa Nelly” per se considering the bigger picture – the scope of life. However, our words are more powerful than we realize. Just like tangible things were created by Word of God…

“In the beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself. He was [continually existing] in the beginning [co-eternally] with God. All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him not even one thing was made that has come into being.”‭‭ John‬ ‭1:1-3‬ ‭AMP‬‬

And by God speaking it – read Genesis 1

(ex: “And God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.” Genesis‬ ‭1:3‬)

…so do our words have creation power because we are created in His image and likeness. (Genesis 1:27) We do not recognize the significant impact of what we say because most often it will take a while to see the results of our words. We are so conditioned to “microwave culture” we dismiss our words as trifling. When in actuality we are the ones who are trifling if we don’t value our words enough to watch them. Words are like seeds. What are you planting in yourself and others?

On another note, my daughter reminded me how important it is to align my mouth with the Word of God in my lifestyle so she would mimic right things and have a positive approach to life as she grows. It made me think about how much we repeat without filtering it through the truth in our spirit the Holy Spirit guides us in. We also do not realize how much words can be guided by emotion or things that are temporal instead of what God says. We get caught up talking about our negative experiences, not realizing it is a trap to agree with the enemy instead of agreeing with what God says in order to change undesirable circumstances. Proverbs 6:2 Our words affect the way we think. Living according to the Word of God can be counterintuitive but allows us to live in the fullness of His goodness. We need to believe, agree and live according to what God says and Who He says we are.

Just like a leash controls, restrains and guides a dog – the same should be with our tongues. After all, we have what we say. The words we plant will eventually reap a harvest. What comes out of our mouths will steer our life in a certain direction. Depending how we continue to speak (change our talk to align with God or not), we may or or may not like the destination we end up in. Death and life are in the power of the tongue. Proverbs 18:21 In James 3:1-11, the soul (mind, will and emotions) either empowered by the flesh or the spirit will hold the leash to the tongue – it is a decision we constantly make.

We have a natural inclination to represent and mimic the family we’re born into. Being born again we have to learn God’s Word and recondition ourselves from our natural experience with our earthly families to the culture of our Heavenly Father’s family.

“If in fact you have [really] heard Him and have been taught by Him, just as truth is in Jesus [revealed in His life and personified in Him], that, regarding your previous way of life, you put off your old self [completely discard your former nature], which is being corrupted through deceitful desires, and be continually renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh, untarnished mental and spiritual attitude], and put on the new self [the regenerated and renewed nature], created in God’s image, [godlike] in the righteousness and holiness of the truth [living in a way that expresses to God your gratitude for your salvation]. Therefore, rejecting all falsehood [whether lying, defrauding, telling half-truths, spreading rumors, any such as these], speak truth each one with his neighbor, for we are all parts of one another [and we are all parts of the body of Christ].” ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4:21-25‬ ‭AMP‬‬

Jesus is our example. He gave up his divinity and was fully human. Jesus lived and operated in the supernatural abilities – miracles, signs and wonders. He did so as the Son of Man, not the Son of God in order to show us we can do the same through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives in us when we receive Jesus in our hearts as Lord and Savior.

Jesus said: Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. John 14:12

Jesus only said and did what he heard from His Father God.

Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does.” John 5:19 “I have not spoken on My own, but the Father who sent Me has commanded Me what to say and how to say it.” John 12:49

A key is to say what God says – about yourself, situations, circumstances, relationships, future, health – about everything. If you do not know – find out in His Word, ask Him, and listen for His voice.

Like a child we mimic what we see, hear and put it our mind and hearts. As adults we continue that practice repeating, conditioning and programming ourselves. As children of God we should imitate His thoughts, ways and His love.

“Therefore be imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their father].” Ephesians‬ ‭5:1‬