The tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity; so is the tongue among our members, that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. (James 3:6 NKJV)

What a strong James gives us about our tongues! Although I’ve known this verse for years, God revealed a new truth to me tonight as I read it. I’d always taken the defiling to mean if a person speaks wrongfully of God or curses a person or something on that order. Tonight I realized that it can defile our natural bodies, and that defilement comes from Satan, who makes people sick, not God. God’s goodness to us and for us comes from His unfathomable love.

James 1:16-17 tells us, Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

I’ve always believed the Bible but sometimes wondered “What if it’s God’s will that I’m sick because He wants to teach me something.” I had picked this up from others who thought it. Never did I connected this verse about God’s gifts with sickness. The Bible says all of God’s gifts are good and perfect, and He doesn’t change. How then can sickness and disability be from God? If it’s not from God, then who is it from? That only leaves Satan. What does the Bible say about Satan?

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full (John 10:10 NIV)

Jesus states his purpose and that of the thief, who is Satan. Think about the 3 words used to describe Satan – he will steal your health and thereby steal your work (no matter if it’s a job, school or home) and your money by being sick. He will kill you if disease progresses far enough and by doing that he will destroy God’s purpose for you in this world. Afflictions sometimes destroy families. Even though he’s an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14), his plan is to delude you into believing a lie, especially one about God.

What we say (our tongue) may come from hell (Satan’s campground) if we continually think about and complain of our illnesses. For as he thinks in his heart, so is he (Proverbs 23:7). We must learn to say positive words if we want positive results.

Proverbs 18:21 goes on to say Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit. That’s another Scripture I’ve known for years but somehow failed to connect with health. I’ve simply tried to watch what I say to others so I don’t hurt them and never figured in my thoughts about health, simply assuming that as the body grows older it will have issues.

That doesn’t mean that we ignore health issues. Certainly we consult the doctor and need to try to fix them but we also must rely on our Healer and say what corresponds with His Word. A verse I’ve overlooked for a long time suddenly exploded before me – By His stripes we were healed (1 Peter 2:24). When were you and I healed? When Jesus was beaten at the crucifixion! That’s a done deal.

Psalm 103:2-4 tells us Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies. Even before Christ came to earth, God still worked for His people. Remember that none of the Israelites were sick when they came out of Egypt and were traveling to the Promised Land. God said He would put none of the diseases of Egypt upon them (Exodus 15:26 and Deuteronomy 7:15.)

What will I do with these thoughts? What will you do with them? While we can’t exactly say our way to health, what we say does influence our body. Our mind plays a large part in how we feel, which in turn influences our immune system. Early in the morning when you have work to do outside and you look out the window and see rain or see sunlight, how does that affect how you feel? You may dread going out in the rain but be delighted to go outside in bright sunlight.

This isn’t a positive thinking article, rather it’s about taking the Word of God at its face value. Actually believing with our heart what we read instead of simply giving mental assent to it. That doesn’t mean we’ll be instantly healed, but if we believe God is in the healing business and that He’s the same yesterday as He is today, then we can start believing the Word of God. Then we will see healing. And that includes all kinds of healing – our minds, emotions, and bodies.

It may take time to get our healing because it takes time to get God’s Word down into our hearts so that we truly do believe it and begin to experience it. Let it become a part of who you are. Just as you have no doubt at all about going to heaven when you die, you must have no doubt at all about Jesus’ healing power working in your life today.

Our culture today stands against anything to do with the Word of God so that we fight a battle simply to believe, but we win if we hold on in faith. Read the Word of God daily, especially the first four books of the New Testament that tell of all the miracles Jesus did while He was on earth. His power hasn’t diminished. He still heals today when we pray and truly believe.

I admit that sometimes we pray, believing with all the faith we have, and God does not answer those prayers. Why, we do not know. Only that His ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts are different from our thoughts (Isaiah 55:9). This doesn’t mean God doesn’t care about us or that He doesn’t answer prayer. It simply means our Father has a different plan, even if we can’t understand it (Romans 8:28).

And please don’t get mad at God because of this! If He is our Lord, then we must let Him do things His way. We simply admit we don’t understand but our faith in Him as our loving Father does not waver. We know He remains a good and caring God and His ways are right, so we accept them, even with a broken heart. He will comfort us in our disappointment and grief, because if He loved us enough to send Jesus to die for us, then He loves us enough to stand by us all the time, but especially in our time of need.

Let’s carefully monitor our thoughts and our words about not only our health but any seemingly negative circumstances. Call to mind what Father says about us and repeat that. We must learn to really believe it deep inside, not just to accept it as something that might be true. Evil exists in the world and attacks everyone, but we don’t encourage it by dwelling on the negative but rather on the good our Father provides for us.