What a super powerful verse! Think about it: "YOU shall also decide and decree a thing and IT SHALL BE ESTABLISHED FOR YOU." What are we decreeing over our lives?

I just read an interesting scientific study that I would like to share with You:

Several studies have been conducted by Dr. Idler, a sociologist at Rutgers University, and Dr. Stanislav Kasl of the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health at Yale Medical School, concerning patients' own predictions about their health.

People's answer to the simple question, "Is your health excellent, good, fair or poor?" is a better predictor of who will live or die over the next decade than even a rigorous physical examination, according to new findings.

Even if physical examinations show they are in comparable health, a study shows, older people who say their health is "poor" are seven times more likely to die in the next 12 years than those who say their health is "excellent."

The findings, a surprise to the researchers, are from a study of more than 2,800 men and women 65 years old and older. The same effect has been found in other studies with people of all ages.

People's own evaluations of how healthy they were proved, on average, to be more accurate predictors of who among them would die than did such objective measures as medical symptoms and known health risk factors.

Dr. Idler's conclusions are supported by a review of five other large studies, all of which asked people to evaluate their health, and then tracked down the same people several years later. The studies, in total, involved more than 23,000 people, ages 16 to 94.

In each of the studies, the answers people gave to questions about how they felt were found to be strong predictors of who lived and who died as long as 17 years later. People's estimates of their health outperform even physical examinations as long-term predictors of mortality, according to data reported by Dr. Idler in The American Journal of Public Health.

That report was based on a new analysis of data originally collected in a Federal Public Health Service survey of 6,913 people nationwide who were brought to mobile clinics for detailed health evaluations. The original evaluations were made in the early 1970's, and 12 years later, 93 percent the same people were revisited.

Indeed, Dr. Idler found that almost no results from a thorough physical examination were related to how long a person lived over the next 12 years. One notable exception was for circulatory disorders like hypertension.

"We were astonished to find that physicians' exams didn't predict mortality," Dr. Idler said. "These were excellent, in-depth physicals with extensive lab tests."

Dr. Idler and other researchers are at a loss to explain exactly why people's own evaluations are stronger predictors of their long-term health.

One possibility is that people's beliefs about how healthy they are become self-fulfilling prophecies, leading them to act in ways that make their judgments come true.

(read full study at: http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CEFD71530F932A15750C0A967958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=1 )

I believe most of us know well the fact that our words contain power and we shouldn't really need any outside confirmations about the truth so clearly taught in the Bible... yet, I think learning about such scientifically proven studies helps to better root this truth into our hearts.

A few very well-known personalities who have unknowingly prophesied their own deaths are Abraham Lincoln and Elvis Presley. Lincoln was heard repeatedly confessing that he was going to die as soon as the war was over. Although he knew God, he did not consider his words as carriers of great power. He was shot the very same day that the war ended. Also, Presley continuously said that he was not going to outlive his mother... which he didn't.

The Bible talks about the power of our tongues and our mouths more than about any other part of our anatomy. So, it must be important! Proverbs has a lot to say about the matter:

"The wicked is [dangerously] snared by the transgression of his lips, but the [uncompromisingly] righteous shall come out of trouble." (12:13)

"A gentle tongue [with its healing power] is a tree of life, but willful contrariness in it breaks down the spirit." (15:4)

"He who has a willful and contrary tongue will fall into calamity." (17:20b) ...I believe that a contrary tongue is the one that speaks contrary to the Word of God... not agreeing with God. We may be strong believers, yet, if we speak opposite to what the Word says, we will be calling calamity into our lives (Rom. 4:17)

"A [self-confident] fool's mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to himself." (18:7) ...when our confidence is in ourselves rather than in God and in His promises, we will be speaking what we feel, rather than the truth, and we will bring about ruin. When we speak how things seem to be, we will be reinforcing what we already have. The Word teaches us that we have power to change what we have. The only way we can do it, is by "calling those things that are not as though they were. " (Romans 4:17) We turn a bad situation around through the power of our words - agreeing with the Word of God - speaking the promises of God over our lives.

"A man's [moral] self shall be filled with the fruit of his mouth; and with the consequence of his words he must be satisfied [whether good or evil." (18:20)

"Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it [for death or life]." (18:21) ...the above studies literally prove this proverb true!

"He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from troubles." (21:23)

"The words of a whisperer or slanderer are like dainty morsels or words of sport [to some, but to others are like deadly wounds]; and they go down into the innermost parts of the body [or of the victim's nature]." (26:22) ...what a wake-up call - do not listen to gossip or slander. Those words bring death!

James 3:6 also completely confirms the above scientific studies, concluding, "And the tongue is a fire. [The tongue is a] world of wickedness set among our members, contaminating and depraving the whole body and setting on fire the wheel of birth (the cycle of man's nature), being itself ignited by hell (Gehenna)."

We literally contaminate and deprave our whole bodies with the negative words we speak. It does not matter how we feel (sure, easier said than done, I agree!) but we have to speak the words of life... for literally our own lives depend on it.

The same scientists - the authors of the above study - also found out that when people are tired, exhausted and depressed, they are more likely to speak poorly about their health... triggering even more negative processes in their bodies through their confessions.

Their melancholy feelings give them an impression of bad health. There might be nothing wrong with them physically, but as they feel down, they think their bodies are sick too. So, they speak about disease in their bodies - which might not even be there yet - and their own words cause illness to happen. If there already is pain or disease present, contrary words will only reinforce it... while speaking the promises of God will turn the situation around, bringing health.

It is not even possible to naturally tame our tongues (James 3:8). Our willpower lets us down... not to mention our habitual expressions that we have not paid much attention to, like, "I'm thrilled to death", "I'm dieing to go", "I laugh to death", "I'm blown away" and so on. We think there is no harm in them... but if we continually confess them, they might just be the words that bring to pass what they say. The only way we can truly tame out tongues is through the Word of God and with the help of the Holy Spirit. He is the One Who helps us to learn to speak the words of life.

I do pray that we all would learn to guard our tongues and only speak the words of life!

Many, many blessings and good health to You all,

Eve
http://www.TheSpringOfLife.net
http://www.MyWalkWithJesus.net

Comment (2)

It seems like while the world is "expanding their consciousness" and "opening their inner connection to love and peace" ignited by Eckhart Tolle’s book A New Earth – Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose and the weekly classes by Oprah on her website... Christians are experiencing greater pressure and tension. Well, it might be because of the spiritual climate all around us. It is like the secular world has been halved into two - one part is denying God completely, the other part admits the reality of God... but then tries to elevate the "self" on the throne of God. In the midst of it all, we have to remain calm and stay strong in the Lord.

When we are under pressure, the greatest strain is put on our mouths - tongues. We so desire to do what comes naturally to us - talk about the problem, confess the pressure... but we have to reverse the process and do what does not come naturally, but instead supernaturally, to us and confess the answer.

When we confess the reality, we reinforce it in our lives. But we need to get out. The only way we get out is to confess the answer. One of the old faith giants - Charles Capps - said that when he first began to confess the promises of God he felt like he was lying. But God told him, "Son, how can you lie when you say what I have said?"

Another great story this faith giant told - one that we all can identify with, I bet - was also from the time he first embarked on his faith journey. He said he was crying out to God and telling Him how the more he prayed the worse things got... suddenly God asked him, "Who told you that?" Charles Capps thought a bit and answered, "well, Your Word did not tell me that... so, it must have been the devil." God's answer was, "Well, I'd appreciate it if you did not come to me telling what the devil said and call it a prayer."

Good one! How many times have we gone to God, whining and worrying, fearing and anxious, telling him all the lies the devil has been telling us... and calling it a prayer. Well, it is not a prayer... certainly not a one that God accepts! So, what is a prayer that God accepts?

He accepts the prayer of faith... faith in His promises. Hebrews 11:6 lets us know that, "without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He is the rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him [out]."

We actually offend Him by not trusting the precious and powerful promises He has given us - for our salvation! Isaiah 8:13,14 says, "The Lord of hosts - regard Him as holy and honor His holy name [by regarding Him as your only hope of safety], and let Him be your fear and let Him be your dread [lest you offend Him by your fear of man and distrust of Him]. And He shall be a sanctuary [a sacred and indestructible asylum to those who reverently fear and trust in Him]."

Hey, what a promise! Yet we doubt. Doubt, in turn, allows our prayers fall flat. Then we tell others how our prayers were not answered... and others draw their own conclusions, which most often go like - God doesn't really want to answer my prayers, so, why bother. Or, we go to God begging and crying, thinking that may be God will this time take notice and answer some of our prayers. But God does not answer doubtful prayers. Sure, there are times when we step out in faith for the first time for something and there is the kind of uneasiness within us... but this is not what I am talking about... because when we, in spite of uneasiness, still step out and confess the answer according to the promise of God, we are stepping out in faith and God honors that. He always does.

So, lets not draw our conclusions from other people's experiences but rather from the Word of God. I love what Isaiah 7:9 says in the Living Bible: "You don't believe Me? If you want Me to protect you, you must learn to believe what I say." There is NO other way... we must learn to believe what He tells us in His Word.

The Word of God is actually not just a reading book, it is our confession book. We should go into the Word and find the promises that cover our situation and confess them daily. God gave Joshua the steps toward success, commanding, "This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success."

God has given You and me the responsibility to make our way prosperous in every situation! How? By meditating - speaking, confessing, muttering to oneself - the promises of God. How much should we confess? Here God told Joshua to meditate the Word of God day and night! So, this leaves nothing out. We can't speak the promises of God one day... or one week... or even one month and when it don't happen by then, give up. No, we confess the answer until the answer is manifest!

Hey, think about it, the Bible calls our hearts gardens. We have sown so many weeds into our hearts that it might take some time for us to get the weeds out and the good plants firmly planted. For it is our hearts that bear fruit - good or bad. Matthew 12:34 tells us that "out of the fullness (the overflow, the superabundance) of the heart the mouth speaks." Continuing to say that "the good man from his inner good treasure flings forth good things, and the evil man out of his inner evil storehouse flings forth evil things."

Have we been sowing good or evil seeds into the gardens of our hearts? Whatever we sow will take root and bare fruit accordingly. And if we think that words cannot really be THAT important, consider Proverbs 18:21, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it [for death or life]."

Many modern-day scientists agree that our bodies respond - on a cellular level - to every thought we think, every emotion we have, and every word we speak. Even scientific research has proven true what the Word said thousands of years ago! Our hearts (not the blood pumps but the core parts of our beings - our hearts/spirits) record the emotions and words we speak and accept them as truth. As our spirits are connected to God's Spirit, in order to draw the wisdom of God, they start searching for ways to bring to pass what we have called into being through our words. There is always a way to bring to pass the calamity we have called into being... or the promises of God.

No wonder Proverbs 4:23 warns us, "Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life." We need to guard our hearts above all else for literally life or death flow out of what we sow into our hearts.

In Hebrews 3 the Spirit of God is grieving deeply, talking about the children of Israel, "They always err and are led astray in their hearts, and they have not perceived or recognized My ways and become progressively better and more experimentally and intimately acquainted with them." (v.10)

When we do not seek God first... when we do not know His ways, we have the trash of the world in our hearts that leads us astray... and the result is, "Accordingly, I swore in My wrath and indignation, They shall not enter into My rest." (v.11) Isaiah 57:20,21 actually says, "But the wicked are like the troubled sea, for it cannot rest, and its waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace, says my God, for the wicked." ...there is no rest for a wicked heart.

We can only be truly led by the Spirit of God when we set ourselves in agreement with the Word of God. We can only experience God's salvation in every and any situation when we choose to believe in, meditate on and speak the promises of God. When we begin to confess a promise, we might not believe it yet with all our hearts, but Romans 10:17 lets us know that, "faith comes by hearing and hearing." So, the more we speak the promise of God, the more we allow the faith to take root in our hearts - pushing out and overtaking the weeds.

There is no other way to change a negative situation into something good. Things that are seen can only be changed by the promises unseen... yet very real and ready to be released. Hebrews 11:1 teaches, "Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses]." ...So, "By faith we understand..." (v.3) ...not by reason.

In a well known passage in Romans 4:17, God has given us a formula to change what we have to what we do not yet have, but desire. We are told to speak "of the nonexistent things that [He has foretold and promised] as if they [already] existed." The Living Bible puts it this way: speak "of future events with as much certainty as though they were already past."

God called into existence every single thing that we see. He used His Words to bring it from the unseen into the seen. If we think we do not have to do things the way He does, in order to succeed, we are wrong, for Ephesians 5:1 clearly exhorts us, "Therefore be imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their father]."

So, what should we confess and how? Here are some examples:

"No weapon that is formed against me shall prosper." (Is.54:17a) ...it is a good confession at all times, for we know not what weapons might be aimed at us in the spirit or natural... it will take care of ALL the weapons.

"When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him and put him to flight [for He will come like a rushing stream which the breath of the Lord drives]." (Is.59:19) ...also a good thing to confess, for the Word we speak will go out like an arrow into our future, preparing the way for us... taking care of all the enemy tactics even before the devil manages to send out an arrow against us. David constantly confessed that he will overcome his enemies... and he always did. His own words plowed the way towards victory.

"I arise [from all the depression and prostration in which circumstances have kept me - I rise to a new life!] I shine (I am radiant with the glory of the Lord), for my light as come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon me!" (Is.60:1) ...an awesome confession if depression wants to overcome You.

"I shake myself from the dust; I arise, I sit [erect in a dignified place]; I loose myself from the bonds of my neck, I am no longer captive." (Is.52:2) ...a good confession if we want to become free from bondages... even the ones we are not aware of... God hears the prayer and starts working on setting us free.

"Surely He has borne my griefs (sicknesses, weaknesses, and distresses) and carried our sorrows and pains [of punishment]. He was wounded for my transgressions, He was bruised for my guilt and iniquities; the chastisement [needful to obtain] peace and well-being for me was upon Him, and with the stripes [that wounded] Him I am healed and made whole." (Is.53:4-5) ...a confession for healing and complete well-being.

"This is the day the Lord has made; I will rejoice and be glad in it." (Ps 118:24) ...a great confession for each morning - it sure will set the mood for the day! Years ago the Lord taught me to confess it the first thing every morning... and I have ever since.

"I enter into Your gates with thanksgiving and a thank offering and into Your courts with praise! I am thankful and I say so to You, I bless and affectionately praise Your name! For Lord, You are good; Your mercy and loving-kindness are everlasting, Your faithfulness and truth endure to me forever." (Ps.100:4-5) ... great confession when wanting to enter into God's presence... also great to build up one's faith in His goodness and faithfulness.

"Bless (affectionately, gratefully praise) the Lord, O my soul; and all that is [deepest] within me, bless His holy name! Bless (affectionately, gratefully praise) the Lord, O my soul, and forget not [one of] all His benefits - He forgives [every one of] all my iniquities, He heals [each one of] all my diseases, He redeems my life from the pit and corruption, He beautifies, dignifies, and crowns me with loving-kindness and tender mercy; He satisfies my mouth [my necessity and desire at my personal age and situation] with good so that my youth, renewed, is like the eagle's [strong, overcoming, soaring]!" (Ps.103:1-5) ...one of my very favorite confessions, covering so many areas of our lives... and what is the best - keeps our youth renewed :-) Wow!

"The law of God is in my heart; none of my steps shall slide." (Ps.37:31) ...confessing the right steps, right decisions.

Those are just a few examples. The Word is full of promises, covering every single area of our lives. The whole Psalms of 23, 91 and 112 have been my confessions at different times. We shouldn't immediately overload ourselves with tens of Scripture verses... but we should take some and make them our daily confessions, until such a practice becomes a habit for us. Confessing the Word before we begin with our day makes a huge difference. It prepares our day and makes it much more positive.

Remember, the Bible is not just a reading book, it literally is our confession book... so, lets start confessing... thus also changing our lives. This is God's way.

Many, many blessings to You all,