Believe & Speak

More and more, I’m inclined to think that the opposite of faith isn’t so much unbelief as it is despair. The absence of faith almost always leads to utter hopelessness. Declaring the truth of God’s Word, like we do each week on this podcast, helps us build up faith and boot out despair. Your tongue has the power of life, my friend, so what you say matters. Your mouth can not only change the atmosp...

I heard a great sermon last Sunday by Nathan Finochio about how being in relationship with God is about loving him the way he likes to be loved. Since Jesus said that to love him is to obey him, obedience to God obviously matters. That’s why I’m thankful to know the truth found in this week’s declaration. Your Heavenly Father longs to be in relationship with you. He doesn’t ask you to jump through...

I pulled today’s declaration from a promise Moses gave to the Israelites when the Egyptian army cornered them at the Red Sea. Picture the Israelites trapped between all the forces in Pharaoh’s army—all his horses and chariots—and an ocean. Aren’t you thankful that the same God who buried Pharaoh’s army stands ready to rescue and deliver you? I’m reminded of the song from Elevation Worship called “...

Welcome to the podcast designed to empower your tongue with truth. When you believe truth from the Bible and speak declarations drawn from scriptural truths, then you can overcome the negative affect of believing lies. You can drown out each lie about who you are and what you’re capable of with the truth of who God has created you to be and what He has empowered you to do through His Spirit. Belie...

You can’t always read Proverbs in context, because its collection of wise sayings often jumps from topic to topic. But Proverbs 18:19-20 wonderfully sets up the point made in verse 21. Proverbs 18:21 was the focus of the first episode of Believe & Speak. What you and I say matters a lot more than how much we say. While it’s true that talking too much is rarely a good thing, you can never speak too...

This week’s declaration is for anyone trying to discern God’s will and having a hard time hearing from him about your next steps. I have been on a wild goose chase over the past few months. My deepest desire has been to do the will of God. To trust and obey him, whatever the cost, whatever the outcome. I have done my best to discern God’s will, but nothing has made sense. Confusion paralyzed me an...

This week’s declaration speaks of the firm confidence that is ours as we hold on to God and his promises. Aren’t you thankful that we don’t simply hope for the best. We hope in God! This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. About a month ago I did an episode that included Hebrews 4:16, which says, “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive...

In Luke 12, Jesus is speaking to a crowd as well as to his disciples, and he addresses them ALL as dear friends. He tells the gathered group of thousands that God knows the number of hairs on every head in the crowd. Then he says, “So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.” (Luke 12:7 NLT) Of all the hurtful things people may say, I can testify to the fact th...

This episode will have us declaring a promise attached to heeding God’s rules for life. God’s Word not only warns us to keep us from harm, but also encourages us to keep us at peace. God leads us into abundance when we choose to follow him. My oldest granddaughter will be four years old this month. Her younger sister is turning two, and the baby in the family just had her first birthday. Watching...

I was talking with a friend yesterday about what Jesus said to his disciples when he was teaching them what to expect in the last days. “For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect” (Matthew 24:24 NIV). I love the two-word promise in that verse: if possible. IF possible! In other words, the elect will not be deceived...

Today’s episode centers on Hebrews 4:13-16, which contains a beautiful invitation to be completely transparent with God. I love how these verses point out the beauty of being totally laid bare before God. We not only have nothing to fear when we approach the throne of grace, but we can approach with bold confidence, knowing that we are welcome and dearly loved by God. The New Living Translation sa...

I don’t usually pull verses from Proverbs for this podcast, primarily because Proverbs contains principles rather than promises. Promises encourage us while principles direct us. Our declaration today leans toward instruction rather than inspiration. The principles taught in Proverbs 3:3 help us know how to diligently guard our hearts. This valuable instruction is probably why I memorized these ve...

This episode is late for a couple of reasons. For one, the 4th of July made Tuesday feel like Monday. I completely forgot to write and record this week’s episode until my husband reminded me late Tuesday night that we hadn’t recorded it yet. He is my sound engineer and keeps me on track and on time. His reminder may have come late this time because his precious mother died last Sunday. Jean Bryant...

Malachi was an Old Testament prophet, and he recorded some strong words for those who speak harshly about God. The voices defying God make a lot of noise, but the Lord isn’t bothered. In fact, Psalm 2 tells us that he laughs at their futile plans. The verses I read in today’s episode from Malachi 3 start out with the Lord calling them out. He knows what they’re saying. He also knows that believers...

Two thoughts were jockeying in my head to become the focus of this week’s episode, and God surprised me by showing me verses from Isaiah that address both thoughts. I’m in need of rest lately—and God is calling me to rest, so I thought about dedicating this episode of Believe & Speak to God’s command that we rest. But I’m also in desperate need of guidance. I’m in a season of transition and need d...

I hung my American flag on Memorial Day and plan to keep it waving through the 4th of July. I’m proud to be an American, and yet my citizenship is in heaven. One of the best things (and there are many wonderful things) about heaven is that we will all be united. No factions. No interest groups. No divisions. Every citizen of heaven stands united under the lordship of our Savior, Jesus Christ. I’ve...

Did you know that God gives us a reason to sing with joy all day, every day, no matter what transpires? Declaring that truth helps redirect my focus toward what is good—namely our Heavenly Father—and away from what is bad—like those situations that scream, “Look at me instead.” No thank you. I will intentionally look to God and stand on the promises in His Word. I started this podcast because I be...

Today’s declaration reminds me of the old standard by George Gershwin, “Someone to Watch Over Me.” I used to sing that song six nights a week when I sang professionally many years ago. That old love song wasn’t about our relationship with God, but the line about the “little lamb” lost in the wood makes me think of the Good Shepherd who leaves the 99 in search of the one. I am incredibly thankful f...

If you’ve ever been criticized for waiting on God’s timing rather than forging ahead with what may seem like the best laid plans, then today’s declaration is for you. Why would waiting on God be shameful? Well…  when God’s direction runs contrary to common sense, when obeying God looks like passing up an opportunity, when yielding to God’s schedule looks like procrastination, people may judge our...

Whenever I think of God’s unchanging nature, my go-to verse is Hebrews 13:8, which says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Malachi 3:6 says, “I the Lord do not change.” When it comes to the steadfast, unchanging nature of our God, I don’t think of the verse I’ll be reading today. Instead, I usually focus on the good and perfect gifts that come from God. In fact, the reaso...

I keep a record of the Bible verses I’ve read each week since beginning this podcast back in January 2020. Sometimes I’ll think of a verse that is so familiar to me that I’m certain I’ve already featured it on this podcast, but I’ll look it up to be certain. I did that today, and much to my surprise, I discovered I have not shared the verses from Jeremiah 29 that I’ll be reading in this episode. I...

I spoke at an event last Monday, and the theme was “April showers bring May flowers.” That familiar phrase influenced my choice of what Bible verses to read today, and those verses inspired our declaration, which is like a blast of sunshine after a storm. The thing about nature’s seasons is that they come and go within a limited amount of time that can be measured. The rainy season comes, and whil...

Our Bibles are so rich and full of promises. I have no doubt that I could continue this podcast for years and never run out of pearls of truth that you and I can declare with hopeful expectation. Today’s promise can be found in two Old Testament books, and I’m incredibly encouraged to know that the promises of God have stood the test of time. Both Psalm 18 and 2 Samuel contain the words I’m about...

Today’s declaration is appropriate for the first episode of Believe & Speak since Easter, and it comes from two different scriptures. One contains a promise Jesus gave to Martha after her brother died, and the other contains a reminder Paul gave the Corinthians after his encounter with the resurrected Jesus changed the course of his life. I love how Martha said in John 11:22, “But even now I know...

The things of God sound foolish to the natural man because these things are spiritually discerned. I am so grateful for the assurance that God’s Spirit alive in me helps me understand spiritual things. Since we have the mind of Christ, we can evaluate all things, reject lies, and receive truth. Paul’s letter to the church at Corinth explains this, and I know you’ll be encouraged by its promise for...