Well, about 4 years ago, we got a puppy. This was so very against my will. We already had a puppy for 12yrs. And I didn’t want another. My middle son begged and pleaded and that is how it all began.
We get this scrawny little worm filled puppy as our pet. She was the runt in her family and the thinnest in size but not in personality. When I was a small girl my mama would say "always get a mutt as a pet. They are just better dogs.” At this moment in time, I can say she was correct. But for that very first year, I didn’t believe her.
Belle was a chore from day one. She had to be bottle fed, she had to be held and she couldn’t keep temperature. Her dog sister Lilly, that was 12 yrs old at the time, didn’t like her which made it more difficult. They did not get along. I would send my children to school only to be fussing at the dogs all day. It was exhausting.
Belle was being trained. She didn’t potty train well, she chewed up window coverings, shoes, trash, you name it, she chewed it. I would get upset and wouldn’t touch her, or tell her I didn’t like her. I would say out loud that she wasn’t my dog and if somebody else wanted her I would give her away. Of course I tried not to say this in front of my children but I was truly overwhelmed. Right after getting extremely frustrated because she tore my window covering to pieces, the Holy Spirit said to me,” Now Shannon, does anything do well that you speak death over?”
It caught me by such surprise. I was so frustrated at this untrained dog, I wasn’t careful with my words. And my voice was training this pup how to feel and behave.
I began to remember that in Proverbs 18:20-21
It says,”20 A man’s stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth;
From the produce of his lips he shall be filled.
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
And those who love it will eat its fruit."
As you know, Jesus never speaks to us about the small things that don’t reveal something to us about the bigger things. My heart was full of complaints and out of it my mouth was speaking, actually yelling it.
I repented to God that very moment and began to declare life over Belle. The moment I changed my tone and pitch. The moment I said to her, “I love you, you are a good dog!” In the instant I began to speak life, she changed into the most lovable pup anyone could ever ask for. She was waiting to be loved. Waiting to be my dog. She has become just that. She is now the most adored dog in our house and also among our neighbors and friends.
Are you speaking life or death over your situation today? Have you gotten so frustrated that your heart is now being made manifest in your words? That is sin my sweet friend. It can take you down a loveless and complaint riddled road. Take it from me. Speaking life is so much better.