Silence the Doubt
Do you ever feel the urge to just stop talking? Maybe it’s a moment of frustration or a season of discouragement. You just need to be silent. When I think of hitting the mute button on doubt and negativity, I think of Zechariah in Luke 1. Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth are characterized by being righteous and upright in the sight of the Lord. This couple, now advanced in years had been believing God for a child. When we catch up to Zechariah in Luke 1:11, an angel of the Lord appears to him in the temple with good news! After years of waiting, he and his wife Elizabeth will have a child.
Zechariah totally kills the moment of joy with his question filled with doubt, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.” Immediately as the angel is delivering good news, Zechariah becomes a killjoy. As obvious as this is to us as the reader, how often do we respond this way? So often when the Holy Spirit tries to impart hope and promise in our spirit, we open up our mouths and start to speak doubt. How easy it is when God is trying to answer our prayers to shut things down with our words of unbelief. Just like Zechariah, we can get caught up in the how and the reasons that it is impossible.
Mary, when approached by the angel prophesying Jesus's birth asked a similar question, yet it wasn’t coming from a place of doubt but honest intrigue. She followed her question in Luke 2:38 by, “May your word in me be fulfilled.” Mary believed and spoke in unison with the will of God despite her understanding.
Zechariah on the other hand, needed a little help in his faith. The angel of the Lord actually silenced this man until the promise of a son named John was fulfilled. I often refer to this passage when I’m reflecting on the power of our words. Zechariah’s words of negativity and unbelief were powerful enough to abort the plan that God had put into place for the redemption of all mankind. In fact, Proverbs 18:21 reminds us that the power of life and death is in the tongue. Our words either put an Amen on God’s plan to bring to pass the will of what He has spoken over us or through negativity and unbelief they put an Amen to the enemy’s plan over our lives.
God most likely isn’t going to send an angel with a mute button in your life. What He has given us is His word and the Holy Spirit. Today, be reminded of the power that lies in your words. Before you speak out about what you feel or see in the natural, weigh the consequences. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you, “put a guard over your mouth” (Psalm 141:3).
Going into this season allow the story of Zechariah to remind you to silence doubt and unbelief. Speak out what God’s word says in faith! Your words bring life to what God has promised! Don’t waste time meditating on whether the promise can happen in your life, take God’s word at face value and just believe and speak forth what He says!
Remember today, there is a miracle waiting to manifest through your mouth!