DREAD AND THE WORDS WE SPEAK by Latta-Claire

Dread.

“To Anticipate with great fear or apprehension”

My senior year of high school I found out I had to retake a freshman level course because I did not receive a high enough grade at the school I had attended my freshman year. I was so disappointed with myself and also for having to repeat a class. I felt like such a failure. On top of that the particular subject was one I was not great at (obviously) and one I did not enjoy AT ALL.

I literally dreaded taking it so much that I thought of every way possible to get out of it. But there was no other option that would work. I remember the first day I was almost in tears because I was filled with so much fear. At the time I did not know that, I just thought I was really dreading the course. But dread is a form of fear.

I had previously always approached dread as something I really didn’t want to do or something I was not looking forward to. But it is in fact a form of fear.

Scripture says "The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit” Proverbs 18:21.

If we speak dread over ourselves we’re going to live in it. We have to ask ourselves if we are wanting to produce fruit that is LIFE GIVING or fruit that brings HARM. In other words, are we going to speak words of life that bring joy and peace into our everyday lives or are we going to speak words of negativity that bring anxiety, defeat, and harm to our everyday lives?

I had spoken dread over that class so much that I had so much anxiety. However, after the first day of class I thought to myself, I do not want to live my life like this. I do not want to dread this class everyday and have anxiety. Jesus has to have MORE for me and does not want me staying in a place of dread and anxiety.

It definitely was a spiritual battle. I had to fight everyday to not let negative words come out of my mouth, and to not let the enemy have a foothold in my mind and in my thoughts. Everyday I would say to myself, Today’s class is going to be great and I am going to have joy walking into this classroom. Somedays were harder than others, but man it was so worth it to fight for peace and joy, and not let Satan in. Can you imagine how awful the class would have been if I continued to speak dread and words of negativity over it?

Reflect on how many times you say, “I am dreading this class”, “I am dreading going to work”, “I am dreading tomorrow”. You probably say it a lot more than you think because for a lot of us it has become natural. And what ends up happening? You go into class, work, the next day already convinced the day is going to be bad.

I want to challenge you (and myself) on this.

Think about what you speak. It has POWER as scripture says above.

Speak LIFE and GOOD things over yourself. Think of how God created the world! WITH HIS WORDS. HE SPOKE IT INTO BEING. We have that same authority as we are created in His image. So it is important that we are mindful of what we say.

I encourage you to speak peace over whatever you are dreading and ask that God would help you have a renewed mindset.

Scripture says that God has not given us a spirit of fear (or dread) but of power, love, and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7).

God has not given us a spirit of fear or dread so whenever it comes it is the enemy trying to have a foothold in your life, but we serve a God who HAS given us a spirit of POWER, LOVE, AND A SOUND MIND.

Paul goes on to say in 2 Timothy 1:14 to “Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.” SO GOOD. Guard what was entrusted to you! Guard your heart and mind and let the Holy Spirit help you. God does not call us to do this alone, but He has provided the Holy Spirit as our HELPER.

Jesus has more for us than to live in dread. God wants us to speak life, joy, peace, and goodness over ourselves.

If you struggle with speaking negativity and dreading things often- here are some verses that are so encouraging. Write them down where you look often. Joshua 1:8 says, “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” When we meditate on God’s Word day and night, He makes a way for us and speaking words OF LIFE will become easier as you take in more of His Word.

Some verses for those struggling with dread and speaking words that are life giving:

Joshua 1:8

Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

Proverbs 18:21

The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

2 Timothy 1:14

Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.

Deuteronomy 31:6

Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.