Speak Life!

*Written January 3rd 2020 - as in pre-quarantine*

The scripture states, Life and death is in the power of the tongue (Proverbs 18:21).

Although this is Biblical, people who are not into scriptures can recall the saying,

your words have power.

Our thoughts can play on how we feel, what we do, and even impact things we say. For this new year 2020, I’ve heard the theme of "2020 vision," "seeing things clearly," but

what about our words?

The Clark Sisters song, “Miracle,” talks about looking, expecting, feeling, seeing, believing, and receiving. Now, who knows what was going on personally in their lives when the song was written and recorded? I don’t know how your 2019 ended or how your 2020 began, but what I do know is life happens and situations occur.

You can uplift yourself by speaking life and positioning your posture in expectancy.

2019 was a set of mini series for me. It had the highs and the lows in story sequences. I still can’t gather my full thoughts on 2019, overall it gave me tons of seasonal experiences. There were spontaneous events, opportunities, adventures, and settings; yet, in the end I was left with gig work, a prayer closet, and a list of interviews. Graduate school was still going well, but everything else represented seasonal settings.

I briefly encountered someone from a "God-like" organization for two horrible weeks. Each time they spoke with me they were negative. I wanted to drench them in holy water. They only spoke doom and gloom. How could this person not know that their negative words were far from uplifting others as their organization spouted? From that occurrence, I began to self-doubt, snap out of it, then speak life. It was an internal fight that I had to shake.

One day, I decided the best way for me to combat the negativity was with a positive mindset. I made a commitment to daily prayer and weekly fasting.

This step made a difference in my outlook, despite what was currently my reality. The end of 2019 brought me to the point where all I wanted was positivity. With the close of the year, my life as a set of mini series wrapped up.

I was postured in preparation for what's next.

I faithfully began watching a specific church on the east coast in 2019, so for NYE (east coast time) the message hit me to where I felt I was the only one the preacher was speaking to. The title of “Expect the Great, Speak Life" was a confirmation full of affirmations. I couldn't keep this message to myself, so I got my family involved.

We each wrote down positive affirmations and expectancy for 2020 and beyond.

January 1st came but the day was off. I couldn’t let the first day of the new year end negatively. I had to pause, I had to breathe, I had to pray. I had to speak life. This simple pause blessed the rest of my day, brought understanding, and continued the following day.

2020 will bring us the same 365 calendar days as previous years.

In this new decade look to see what it is you want to do and accomplish. Be realistic with challenges. Everything isn’t as lovely as a rose bouquet. Once you get it in your mind, “Positivity is what I like” and “Positivity is what I give,” you’ll see your outlook change. Your environment can produce a new dynamic.

Whatever you do in 2020, remember to speak life, pray, and be that positive force even on the darkest of days. Count your blessings, even when in disguise.

Expect the Great, Speak Life.