SCRIPTURE:

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. (Genesis 1:27)

DEVOTIONAL:

When I was living on Chicago’s north side some years ago, one bitterly cold, winter day my car would not start. The windchill was about 60 degrees below zero. I was parked over on Inner Lake Shore Drive. When I got in my car andtried to start it, nothing happened. In fact, a lot of cars did not start. I noticed a tow truck driver cruising the street making all kinds of money starting cars. I said, “I’m not going to let him start my car.” So what did I do? I got out of my car and as I stepped back, I looked around to see if anybody was watching me. Then I spoke to the car saying, “Car, in the Name of Jesus of Nazareth, I command you to start.” Then I went inside and got a cup of hot chocolate togive God a chance to work. When I came back out and put my key in that ignition, the car started up just like it was a 70-degree day.

This is just one of many examples in my life of how the words I have spoken in faith manifested in the natural realm. The first time you do something like this it looks foolish. Now, if I had been out there on the side of the highway kicking and cussing a stalled car, most people would have found my behavior more “normal.” Many times when you step back from a crisis and speak God’s Word over it, people will start pointing at you and calling you crazy–evensome church folks.

But God says to me, “You have been created in My image and likeness. The things that I do, you shall do also.”Jesus understood the power of His words. He spoke to a fig tree and it obeyed Him. He spoke to a storm and it obeyed Him. He spoke to a man who had been dead four days and stinking, and he obeyed Him. So, when my car would not start, it was time for me to speak and I did. This was not a coincidence. The Word worked just like God said it would and it will work for whosoever believes.

PRAYER:

Dear Lord, how awesome are Your ways! Thank you for creating me in Your image with the power to speak faith commands and see what I spoke manifest in my life just like Jesus did. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

This devotional is excerpted from Bill Winston’s must-read book, Power of the Tongue. To order your copy now, click here. In Canada? Click here.