Over the past several weeks, we have looked at the importance of the words we speak. Scripture shows us that words have the power to produce life or death, blessing or cursing. But there is another side to this truth: words do not only come out of our hearts. Words also go into our hearts.

Understanding both sides is essential to developing strong faith. The words we speak reveal what is already in our hearts, but the words we continually hear help determine what is being placed in our hearts.

Jesus taught in Mark 11 that we are to speak to the mountain, believe in our hearts, and not doubt. But that raises an important question: how does faith get into the heart in the first place?

Romans tells us that “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” Words are not only something we use to release faith. Words are also how faith is built within us.

This principle works both positively and negatively. Faith comes through continually hearing God’s Word, but fear, doubt, and unbelief can also grow through continually hearing words that contradict God’s truth.

We see this with Goliath. Every morning and every evening, Goliath stood before Israel speaking words of intimidation. His words continually fed fear into the hearts of the army until they saw themselves as defeated before the battle even began.

Today, we have countless voices speaking into our lives every day. Through television, news, social media, music, entertainment, and conversations, we are constantly receiving words. That is why we must be intentional about what we allow to feed our hearts.

Joshua was instructed to meditate on God’s Word day and night. Biblical meditation is not simply sitting quietly and thinking. It includes speaking and repeating the Word to ourselves. Instead of automatically speaking frustration, fear, or defeat, we can deliberately speak words of life.

This is why our own words matter so much. We hear what we say. When we continually speak God’s promises, those words are continually feeding our hearts. The spoken Word becomes a source of faith, supplying and strengthening us from within.

We should not wait until pressure comes to find out what is inside us. Jesus said that out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. When unexpected situations arise, what has already been deposited in our hearts is what comes out.

That is why faith must be built before the crisis. We continually put God’s Word into our hearts so that when pressure comes, words of life become our response.

The Gospel itself carries God’s power. Romans 1:16 tells us that the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation. God’s Word carries the power to produce His promises, including life, health, protection, and deliverance.

The encouragement this week is simple: put the Word in. Put the Word in continually. Fill your heart with Scripture, faith-filled teaching, and words that agree with God. Because what is abundant in your heart will eventually come out of your mouth.