A young person recently came to my wife and me for prayer about a health challenge. She had received a gloomy prognosis from the doctor and was quite downcast about it. The doctor’s words caused her to become very anxious about her healing. We noticed that words and thoughts—good or bad—can greatly affect the healing process.
Does our mental diet influence what happens to our bodies? The scriptures show that healing is very dependent on the words we allow into our minds and hearts.
III John 2:
Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul [thoughts] prospereth.
When we trust God to prosper our souls with the words of His Word, we will see good physical health. The Book of Proverbs is written to help and guide young people. It says a lot about words and health.
Proverbs 4:20-26:
My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.
For they are life unto those that find them, and health [healing] to all their flesh [physical body].
Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
Put away from thee a froward [perverse] mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.
Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.
Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.
When we listen to God’s healing words and let them sink into our hearts, they are life and health to our bodies. The heart is where the things that matter, the “issues of life,” come from. And we must “put away” evil words from perverse lips to prevent them from negatively influencing our heart.
The English word “pervert” comes from the Latin per, meaning “all the way through” and verto, meaning to turn. Perverse lips twist the truth all the way through. Religious, well-meaning people can even quote the Bible or other “holy books” and bring hurt and confusion. God’s Word is healing when it is properly understood, but not when it is twisted (Galatians 1:7; II Corinthians 11:13-15).
This same Hebrew word meaning “healing” is used in chapters 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16. God is making a point that words affect our health!
Proverbs 12:17-20:
He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit.
There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health [healing].
The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.
Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counsellors of peace is joy.
Some words cut to the heart like a sword. The Devil uses “fiery darts” (Ephesians 6:16) that are words designed to pierce into the heart and sizzle there. But the tongue of the wise (those who properly apply the right words at the right time) is healing.
Again, the context of this truth is all about words and how they affect us. Counselors of peace bring joy, and the lip of truth is established forever. Those are the kind of healing words that we want in our hearts!
Proverbs 13:17:
A wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful ambassador is health [healing].
This verse in Hebrew says the wicked messenger brings mischief, or evil. In contrast, those who faithfully speak God’s Word bring healing. Ambassadors for Christ help reconcile people to God (II Corinthians 5:20).
Proverbs 14:29,30:
He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.
A sound [healing] heart is the life of the flesh [physical body]: but envy the rottenness of the bones [physical body].
A heart filled with God’s loving promises issues life to the body. The bone marrow produces blood, and blood is the life force for the entire body (Leviticus 17:11). But envy and jealousy are like decay in the bones. When we don’t trust our heavenly Father to meet our need, the adversary can use words to get us to become envious of others. Then we can become “hasty” and rush around, trying to meet our own needs. In stark contrast, the believer with a sound heart has God’s peace on the inside to help make proper decisions.
Colossians 3:15:
And let the peace of God rule [umpire, make proper decisions] in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
Proverbs 15:4:
A wholesome [healing] tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.
God originally put “the tree of life” in the midst of the garden (Genesis 2:9). This was all of the goodness and abundance that God wanted for Adam and Eve. They were not forbidden to enjoy the tree of life, but were to dress and keep it (Genesis 2:15,16). They were to make the most of all the good that their loving Creator had given them.
Similarly, a healing tongue that speaks God’s words brings goodness. Again, perverse (twisting the truth) words try to “smack us between the eyes” spiritually and cause a fracture and a hole in our trust in God. Job realized that his lack of trust contributed to the Devil being able to so sorely attack and physically harm him (Job 3:23-26).
Proverbs 16:23,24:
The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.
Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health [healing] to the bones [physical body].
The wise adds learning to his lips. His heart instructs his mouth with the truth. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10:17). Those words are pleasantly sweet and nutritious like honey is to the soul. I remember running several marathons and eating honey before each race. It gave maximum nutrition for the amount eaten. And it tasted delicious! Trusting God’s promises gives maximum benefit from the words believed. It brings healing to our physical bodies.
True healing is available today through God’s Son, Jesus Christ. Hundreds of years before his birth, this healing power was foretold by the Prophet Malachi.
Malachi 4:2:
But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings….
Today, keep God’s promises in your heart and claim health and healing. Don’t allow the Devil to frighten you or distract from our heavenly Father’s goodness. Fill your heart with God’s words, claim healing through Christ, and enjoy the abundance of life!
5 replies on “Words and Healing”
Good word, Brother Gene. Keep being obedient and share as God gives you utterance.
Great article, Gene! The impact of the Word dominating our hearts and confession is life changing.
This article is a wonderful reminder to really filter carefully what we allow into our minds. Often we can be affected by so many negatives, or as you pointed out, perversions of the truth, out there in the world and we may not even realize how damaging they are to our thinking. Keeping our mental tanks full on God’s healing Word is definitely the key! Great article—thanks Gene!
The ‘Sun of righteousness’ is a great phrase! What a great mind picture! Dawn is beautiful and as the sun rises light radiates over a larger and larger area. Understanding how much God loves us and what he has provided through his son is that light. When we know God personally, he can reassure us through his word and his spirit in our hearts. Thankful for you!
Thanks so much for posting this study related to the words we speak and healing. It brought to mind a recent entry from my blog Dr. J’s Apothecary Shoppe where I share an excerpt from my forthcoming book. In Embracing Your Life Sentence: How to Turn Life Greatest Tragedies into Your Greatest Triumphs. In the section called “Watch Your Mouth” I talk about watching what goes into the mouth as well as what comes out of the mouth as factors related to the healing process. The book should be out in a few weeks. I’ll keep you posted.
Thanks again,
Lonnell Johnson (Dr. J)