Dear Grandchildren:

This month, I want to share a struggle that I’ve had for the last four months. As you know, I became sick on September 1st and before I realized it, I was tied down to my living room chair for three months. When you do nothing for three months, your body becomes very weak, and your attitude can become very negative.

Life can be challenging

Everyone goes through difficult times. So it’s very important how you respond to the trial especially what comes out of your mouth during this trial. 

For your words have creative power.

What do you mean, Farmer D? Whenever we speak something— whether it’s positive or negative—we give life to what we say.

In those past four months, I’ve been trying to overcome how I feel and what had happened to me by confessing a positive direction with my words. It’s important to send words out in the direction you want your life to go. You can’t talk about how bad you feel and expect good health. You produce what you say.

Proverbs 18:21 says, “Life and death are in the power of your tongue.” Wow! This is a very powerful statement. So with this truth in mind, ask yourself:

What are you confessing about the future? Your health? Your finances? Your work? 

Make sure the words you’re sending out are leading you in the direction you want your life to go.

When we arrived in Florida in the middle of January, I was so weak that I had trouble carrying some of our boxes into the house. One morning, I played my first round of golf in months. My longest drives were only 150 yards, and I was shocked! Before this illness, my average drives were around 220 yards. For those who know my competitive personality, you can imagine how discouraged I became. 

My greatest cheerleader, your grandma, challenged me to check my attitude and start practicing what I preach. So, we went out and bought some exercise equipment to strengthen my hands and arms.

 You give life to your faith by what you confess. The key is to confess what the Bible declares. Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” 

When I speak that out of my mouth, I’m declaring that I am strong in Christ. Yes, I may feel weak in my body now, but I will get stronger as I allow the life in that word to work in my life. For when you speak what you desire, you’re speaking favor into your future.

Believe me, I know it’s hard to do this when you’re discouraged. You feel like the world is against you. But this is the time you need to have a talk with yourself to keep your words and life on the positive track. When you do this, it will not only change how you feel, but it will change your attitude as well as what you hear. 

Believe what you’re confessing because the truth in those words can literally help lift your spirits and cause you to see yourself and your circumstances in a new light. What we are doing is building our faith and getting the Word of God into our hearts and minds. 

Here are some great scriptures you can confess: 

• Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. Ephesians 1:3

• He made us accepted in the Beloved. Ephesians 1:6 (NKJV)

• Giving thanks to the Father, who qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light. Colossians 1:12 (In other words, he has made you worthy to inherit his Kingdom.)

• This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles. Psalms 34:6

All these verses are in the past tense like they’ve already happened. Now you and I must do our part and come into agreement with God. We have to put actions behind our faith, so that one day, we will see it in reality.

Many people believe being a Christian means they just have to go to church on Sundays, and that is all they’re required to do. But it’s not. We go to church to fellowship and to learn how to live the life of a Christian in our everyday life. But being a Christian is about putting into action what we believe in our hearts. It’s about living the Christ-centered life in the world, knowing he will empower and guide us.

So there you have it. Remember to pray for your grandpa that he will get his strength back, and he will practice what he writes.

Until next month, 

Love, Grandpa

All Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible translation unless otherwise noted.