Speaking From a Settled Heart
As we have been building through the previous posts, on faith, on receiving and having, and on when faith speaks, one truth continues to stand out:
What we say matters.
Not because words are magical.
Not because repeating phrases produces results.
But because our words reveal what we are truly settled in. Jesus said:
“For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” (Matthew 12:34)
So the question is not just what are we saying?
The deeper question is:
What is our heart aligned with?
Created in His Image, A Speaking God
Part of understanding the power of words begins with understanding who we are.Scripture tells us:
“Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness…’” (Genesis 1:26)
We are all uniquely made, different faces, different fingerprints, different DNA. Yet there are things that are common to every human being. One of those things is this:
We are all communicators.
Whether through spoken words, written words, or expression, every human being has the ability to express what is within. And that reflects something about God.
Because God is not silent.
God reveals.
God speaks.
God Revealed Through His Words
When we look at creation in Genesis, something powerful stands out. God did not struggle to create. He did not strive.
He just spoke.
“And God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light.” (Genesis 1:3)
“Then God said, ‘Let the earth bring forth living creatures…’ and it was so.” (Genesis 1:24)
Again and again, we see the same pattern:
God said… and it was so.
Creation responded to His Word.
We also see this throughout the bible and it is clear how much God honours His Word and is certain of it’s impact.
“He sent out his word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction.” (Psalm 107:20)
“I will worship toward Your holy temple, And praise Your name For Your lovingkindness and Your truth; For You have magnified Your word above all Your name.” (Psalms 138:2)
“For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater, So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:10-11)
Until His Word became Flesh:
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)
He began to make Himself real to us and reveal Himself to us through His Word. Amazing!
Formed by His Hands, Filled with His Breath
But when it came to creating man, something changed.
“Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” (Genesis 1:26-27)
“And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.” (Genesis 2:7)
Man was not only spoken into existence. He was formed by God’s own hands and filled. God breathed His life into us. Which means:
- we carry His breath
- we reflect His nature
- we reflect His ability to express and communicate.
- and therefore can speak things into alignment.
The first thing we see Adam do is not build, not labour, not strive. He speaks.
“And out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field… and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name.” (Genesis 2:19)
Adam named everything he saw. And those names remained. This is profound. Before sin entered the world, before struggle, before toil, man was already speaking and establishing. That’s who you are.
What This Means for Us
This is not about trying to “create reality” the way God does. God is Creator. We are not.
But we are created in His image. And part of that image is that we speak from what is within us. And our words speak things into alignment and establishment. Just as God spoke from His nature,
we speak from our hearts. Which brings us back to Jesus’ words:
“… Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” (Matthew 12:34)
Our words are not random. They are revealing. They show:
- what we believe
- what we trust
- what we are settled in
So when we talk about declarations, we are not talking about:
- trying to sound spiritual
- repeating phrases
- forcing outcomes
Our words are not the starting point. They are the overflow.
For a long time, I thought words were something to manage externally, something to “fix” so that I could sound more positive or more faithful. But I began to realise something deeper:
Words are not the root. They are the fruit.
If there is fear in the heart, it will eventually speak. If there is faith in the heart, it will also speak.
This is why Scripture says:
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” (Proverbs 18:21)
Our words are not empty.
They carry direction.
They produce outcomes over time.
Speaking as an Oracle of God
If our words carry weight, then how we speak matters deeply. Scripture gives us a clear and sobering instruction:
“If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God.” (1 Peter 4:11)
This shifts everything. It means our goal is not just to speak positively. It is not to speak quickly. It is not even to speak confidently. It is to speak in alignment with God.
Because of this, we cannot afford to speak carelessly. There is wisdom in learning to pause, to check our hearts, to check God’s Word, and to listen for His leading before we respond. Scripture reminds us:
“Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.”(James 1:19)
Being slow to speak is not weakness. It is maturity. It is choosing understanding over reaction. It is choosing alignment over impulse.
Anchoring Our Words in Truth
This is why spending time in God’s Word and in prayer is not optional. It is how we learn His will. It is how our hearts become settled in truth. It is how our words begin to reflect Him. Jesus Himself said:
“Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth.” (John 17:17)
And again:
“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.” (John 15:7)
When His Word lives in us, our words begin to flow from the right place.
So the goal is not silence. The goal is not fear of saying the wrong thing. The goal is this:
To become people whose words are rooted in truth, shaped by the Spirit, and aligned with the will of God.
Because when our hearts are settled in Him,
our words will not be forced, they will be true. Before you speak, pause long enough to ask:
“Is this coming from fear, or is this flowing from faith?”
Because what you agree with in your heart, your words will eventually establish. Focus on what your heart is feeding on instead of saying “the right words”. In the next blog, I will share a personal experience with words.
Prayer
Holy Spirit,
Thank You for teaching me the weight and purpose of my words.
Help me to be slow to speak and quick to understand.
Teach me to seek Your will in Your Word and in prayer before I speak.
Let my words be aligned with Your truth and reflect Your heart.
May everything I say bring life, peace, and glory to You.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen. ❤️
Last modified: 28/04/2026