Speak Life: Understanding the Power of Words in the Kingdom of God

Have you ever heard people jokingly say, “Oh, she’s part of the ‘name it and claim it’ crew!” 

Or the classic: “He’s one of those blab it, grab it folks.”

Well… I have an announcement.

I’m one of them — and so are you.

Before you raise your eyebrows, let me explain.

Whether we realize it or not, everyone is naming and claiming something. As long as we are speaking, we are establishing or tearing down. We were created in the image of a speaking God, and speech was woven into our design from the beginning.

The Kingdom Runs on Words

Our introduction to God is not Him doing something with His hands, but with His mouth:

“And God said…, and it was so.” (Genesis 1)

Creation itself responded to His voice.

Proverbs puts it plainly:

“Life and death are in the power of the tongue.” Proverbs 18:21

This is not poetic language.

It is spiritual law.

The entire kingdom we belong to — the Kingdom of God — operates by words, covenants, decrees, and declarations.

That means whether you realize it or not, your words are already shaping your life.

You are already speaking your future.

You are already declaring what you believe.

So the real question isn’t “Do you name it and claim it?”

It’s “What exactly are you naming? And what are you claiming?”

A Kingdom of Words Requires Kingdom Alignment

Think back over the past 24 hours:

• Did your words align with what God has said… or what fear has said?

• Did you speak from faith… or from frustration?

• Did you echo God’s voice… or your feelings?

Our Christian life was never meant to be driven by what we see but by what He has spoken.

David vs. Goliath — A Masterclass in Words + Faith

One of the clearest illustrations of the power of words is found in 1 Samuel 17.

The Israelites were facing the Philistines, who intended to annihilate them. Each Army was on a hill with a valley between them. The Philistines had a super-star warrior, Goliath, who was mean, big, and terrified the entire forces of Israel.

He would strut forward in his enormity, and with his words, he declared dominion, released fear, and threatened destruction.

And Israel believed him.

For 40 days, they retreated from the voice of the enemy.

Along comes young David, sent by his father as the meal delivery boy for his brothers.

When David heard Goliath speak, something rose in him. He recognized immediately, “This is not just a giant — this is a voice opposing my God.” He was taken aback that this person would defy God's chosen ones.

David knew who he was.

He knew he had a covenant with God, and the Philistines didn’t.

On that premise, he requested permission to go and fight Goliath.

Imagine Goliath, for 40 days he had been threatening Israel, spoiling for a fight, and a young teen comes to him holding a sling and a small bag of stones.

Goliath was angry, furious even.

It was an insult to the mightiest man in Philistia to send a teen to fight him.

Not only was Goliath big, experienced, and ready to fight, but now, he was also mad!

And David replied with his own declaration:

Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands.” 1 Samuel 17:45–47

David spoke his victory before it looked possible.

And everything he said is exactly what happened.

What I find particularly powerful is this:

David said he would cut off Goliath’s head… while holding a sling and five stones.

No sword. No blade. No weapon that made sense.

But he spoke what God would do, not what he currently had in his hand.

This is the posture of faith.

Faith speaks what God has said, not what circumstances display.

Are You Speaking From Sight or From Spirit?

James 3 compares the tongue to a rudder steering a massive ship:

• The ship is your life.

• The rudder is your mouth.

• The direction is determined by your words.

So ask yourself:

• Do you say, “Nothing ever works out for me”?

  When God says, “All things work together for your good” (Romans 8:28).

• Do you say, “My whole life is falling apart”?

  When God says you are the apple of His eye (Psalm 17:8).

• Do you say, “I’m so dumb”?

  When Scripture says, “You have the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16).

Your mouth is either partnering with heaven or with the enemy.

There is no neutral ground.

Your Mouth Reveals Your Heart

Jesus said:

“Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.”(Matthew 12:34b)

So the first step to changing your words is not your lips — it’s your heart.

You cannot speak life consistently when your heart is full of fear.

You cannot speak faith when your heart is full of doubt.

You cannot declare truth when your heart is full of lies.

This is why Scripture calls us to hide the Word in our hearts (Psalm 119:11).

When the Word fills your heart, it will naturally flow out of your mouth.

A Gentle Warning

Every time you speak, you are:

• Naming something

• Claiming something

• Establishing something

• Agreeing with someone

• Or disagreeing with God

You are, as the saying goes, “blabbing and grabbing” — but you must make sure you’re grabbing what God actually wants for you.

Your future is riding on your confessions.

A Closing Wisdom

I leave you with this chain of thought that has shaped me for years:

Watch your thoughts, they become words.

Watch your words, they become actions.

Watch your actions, they become habits.

Watch your habits, they become character.

Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.— Attributed to Lao Tzu

Your destiny does not begin in your actions. It begins in your thoughts and words.

So align your words with God.

Think what He thinks.

Speak what He says.

Declare His promises.

Let your confession match your covenant.

And you will see His victory.

I love you,

Oyin.