Take No Thought

Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (Matthew 6:25-31)

Jesus taught His followers not to take the wrong thoughts. It’s not that we can stop the thoughts from coming, but the truth is that we can prevent them from staying. You get to choose what your mind constantly is focused on. Don’t allow it to run wild.

In Matthew 6:25-31, Jesus used a primary thought that the enemy attacks us with, and that is worry. Jesus explained that most humans obsess over their daily needs of food, clothing, and what may happen in the future. Jesus pointed out the birds and the lilies of the field. He explained how God cared for them like God wants to care for us.

Jesus' warning is about avoiding anxious thoughts and refusing to dwell on them and speak them. When we voice fearful thoughts, they take shape and root themselves in our hearts. The enemy wants you to get caught up in the “what-ifs” and “never wills,” but Jesus has a better plan: trust that God will provide for those who follow Him and refuse to entertain any fear about tomorrow.

Practical Application

Stop negative thoughts at its root. As soon as fear tries to enter your mind, counter it by speaking God’s truth. Say, “My Father knows my needs, and He will provide.”

Luke 12:22; Philippians 4:6

Stop Foolish Words Before They Take Root

If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, lay thine hand upon thy mouth. (Proverbs 30:32)

Everyone is vulnerable to moments of foolishness, whether from our words, actions, or evil thoughts. The best thing believers can learn to do is stop dangerous thoughts before they become words. Take a moment while reading this and put your hand over your mouth; remind yourself not to allow a negative, evil, or dangerous thought to come across your lips.

Once a thought is spoken, it gains power, setting things into motion in the spiritual realm. That is why careless words, especially those rooted in pride or evil, can lead to dangerous and damaging consequences. Everything that we see, touch, or interact with in the natural came from words spoken first.

The battle for your faith happens in the mind. Your spirit already believes God’s Word, your flesh is against it, and your soul (mind, will, and emotions) follows whatever wins the mind. It is not a matter of whether evil or prideful thoughts will arise—they will. The key is how we respond to them.

Words are more than sound; the spirit of the speaker empowers them. When God created man, He made us as “speaking spirits.” When you speak the Word and declare by faith, things change in the natural realm. In the same way, as soon as you give a negative or prideful thought a voice, it starts to change the circumstances and situation that you are in. When we begin to control our speech, it becomes easier to identify and uproot negative thoughts and instead agree with God’s Word.

Practical Application

If you are tempted to speak out of frustration or arrogance, pause and ask God for help aligning your words with His Word. Instead of spewing out negativity, replace harmful thoughts with God’s promises. Speak life instead of frustration.

Job 21:5; Job 40:4

The Power of Words

Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. (Proverbs 18:21)

Death or life—those are the only two options. Your words will bring either death or life, nothing in between. Your words will either trap you or set you free. When we think about fear, negativity, or evil and give those thoughts words, we give the enemy the power of destruction over our lives.

The Bible teaches that faith-filled words will activate the forces of heaven, and words of fear or defeat will open doors for the forces of darkness. Angels listen for words of faith to carry out God’s will (Psalm 103:20), but demonic forces also wait to act on words of fear, anger, or pride.

Your words always have consequences, either positive or negative. Proverbs 18:21 tells us that what you dwell on and hold onto will determine your results.

Think about how words impact your personal life. If someone constantly confesses, “I’ll never be good enough,” they reinforce insecurity and limit God’s ability to work through them because their words shape their reality. In the same way, words spoken in anger or bitterness can break relationships and create lasting wounds.

God has given us His Word to declare with power and passion and shape our world.

Practical Application

Thoughts that are not stopped will eventually come out of your mouth. This is why the Bible tells us to meditate on the Word. If you meditate on negativity or lies from the enemy, those thoughts will grow stronger and eventually become your confession. But if you meditate on God’s Word, your speech will reflect His truth, and you will see the results!

Proverbs 6:2; Proverbs 8:5