Joyce Meyer is one Person I admire a lot because of her ministration abilities. She has grown into an army of Good and has changed lives through her daily devotional Online.
TOPIC – Four Powerful Words
The devil may try to keep you stuck in pain by making you think you’re missing out on something good you could have had if you hadn’t had to go through what you did. He might try to tell you that your life was going to be great before those bad things happened, but now that you are hurt, it won’t be as good as it could have been.
The enemy usually starts this plan with the words “If only.” Even after I became a Christian, I had to learn not to think or say “if only” statements. I wasted a lot of time thinking, “Things are better for me now, but they would be even better if I hadn’t been abused.” If I had had a normal childhood with loving parents, I wouldn’t have some of the problems I do now.
You might be thinking something like, “I would be happy if my loved one hadn’t gotten sick and died.” Or, it would be a lot easier for me to start dating again if So-and-So hadn’t broken my trust and left me. Even as you read this, you might be able to think of a “if only” thought that applies to you or remember a time when you said “If only…”
“If only” makes you think and feel bad things and makes you say bad things, so I want to suggest an alternative. What if you thought and said the two positive words “but God” instead of “if only”? Think for a moment about how that would change your view of yourself and your life.
I want you to think about and say something that starts with “but God.” It could be, “I had a very painful childhood, but God is healing me completely and restoring my soul,” or “I spent many years being afraid, worried, and anxious, but God has given me peace, power, love, and a sound mind” (see 2 Tim. 1:7). It could also say, “I’ve never been able to look forward to the future because of my past, but God says He has good plans for me, and that gives me hope” (see Jeremiah 29:11).
The power of the tongue is shown in Proverbs 18:21. What we say can save or take away life. And every word we say starts with a thought. I want to warn you about negative thoughts and words that start with “if only.” Instead, I want you to think and say positive confessions that start with “but God.” When you think and talk about what God can do, His power will flow through you in ways you’ve never seen before.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, that I can choose to change my words and speak more positively because of the power of the Holy Spirit.
Sumary
Always replace the word “if only” with “But God”.