envision
who hear what we say. Today, we have so many platforms where communities gather – WhatsApp chatgroups, social media posts, and face-to-face communications. Church, we cannot be careless with our words, and hide behind the illusive protection of our screens. What we share and how we respond, whether in physical gettogethers or on digital platforms, carries weight! YOUR CONFESSION CAN INSPIRE OTHERS TO GREATER FAITH Many powerful testimonies were shared during Watchnight. Their confessions impacted fellow Trinitarians to arise in faith.
Rachel Yeo, a young working professional shared how she was encouraged by the testimonies – reminders of God’s faithfulness and power for what is to come. She was also challenged to pray and declare over her family and work situations: that facts would not determine her destiny and her faith. Dominic Phua, who is serving national service shared the following: “The testimony by Candy Fang really impacted me when she shared how though her circumstances did not change, she was not afraid because she knew that God is with her.” He continued to share how he was challenged to declare faith and not run away from God in times of trials and temptations. YOUR CONFESSION CAN DAMPEN OR KILL SOMEONE ELSE’S FAITH Spewing negativity. Grumblings against God. Words that dishonor leadership. That’s what the 10 spies did. Even Caleb’s attempt to encourage and shout faith was drowned out by the noise of the 10. Their collective negative confession caused the entire camp to focus on the problem and forget about the promise. Their confession rendered the God who unleashed 10 plagues and parted the Red Sea smaller than the “giants” of the land.
ISSUE 1
There’s no bigger killer of faith than someone who concludes a move of God to be coincidence. We have all heard of the phrase “don’t be a kill-joy.” In this case, don’t be a kill-faith. YOUR CONFESSION IS EITHER A WEIGHT OF DESPAIR OR A LIFT Do you prefer to hang around people who are positive or people who complain all day? I’m sure many of us would rather be in the presence of people who are encouraging and speak life.
Similarly, are your confessions constantly a dead weight or a lifter of heads? As children of God, do our confessions reflect our faith? If we are going to grow in our faith life, you and I must learn to declare in ways that inspire and encourage. Out of our mouths must come the very words of God. When we speak, our words should seek to bring life. Proverbs 15:4 tells us “The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.”
Out of our mouths must come the very words of God.
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