Words are Real: Words & Belief Matter
The season of Advent has begun. A season that reflects that which is impossible coming to life. A passage in Luke that will likely be read throughout the world this season of Advent is Luke 1:11-22. It will be read without much thought many times over across the world - a familiar story of the angel Gabriel appearing to the husband of Elizabeth Zachary speaking of Elizabeth becoming pregnant with John the Baptist. A new revelation has come to me this fall as my awareness of the power of words and thoughts. The scripture reads:
Luke 1:11-22 (Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition)
11 And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing on the right side of the alter of incense.
12 And Zachary seeing him, was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
13 But the angel said to him: Fear not, Zachary, for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John: 14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness, and many shall rejoice in his nativity. 15 For he shall be great before the Lord; and shall drink no wine nor strong drink: and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb. 16 And he shall convert many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias; that he may turn the hearts of the fathers unto the children, and the incredulous to the wisdom of the just, to prepare unto the Lord a perfect people.
18 And Zachary said to the angel: Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.
19 And the angel answering, said to him: I am Gabriel, who stand before God: and am sent to speak to thee, and to bring thee these good tidings.
20 And behold, thou shalt be dumb, and shalt not be able to speak until the day wherein these things shall come to pass, because thou hast not believed my words, which shall be fulfilled in their time.
21 And the people were waiting for Zachary; and they wondered that he tarried so long in the temple. 22 And when he came out, he could not speak to them: and they understood that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he made signs to them, and remained dumb.
Until recently the reading of this passage to me was Zachary was being punished for his unbelief and Gabriel showed his power. How about it goes way deeper in understanding? Our words are so powerful that Gabriel could not chance Zachery speaking his unbelief of the miraculous words from the angel. Zachary is not able to speak until the miracle comes to fruition. If Zachary would have spoken doubt or negativity of the words from Gabriel, the miracle would seemingly be blocked. That is how powerful the words in which we speak.
Proverbs 18:21 (Complete Jewish Bible)
The tongue has power over life and death;
those who indulge it must eat its fruit
Prayer is thought to be a quiet moment of reflection, words spoken with eyes closed at a dinner table, a child kneeling beside a bed with folded hands, a group of people in church with heads bowed and eyes closed…. The words that leave our mouth in reality are in a constant stream of power working for us or against us.
Words are real - I keep telling myself - words are real - words are real. I am working on becoming hyper aware of this concept. Such a great power we have been given. Think about your words - words come from thoughts. Start with your thoughts and have great caution with the words that leave your lips. Imagine that you are in constant prayer and how would that change what you say?