I Have Put My Words in Thy Mouth
Then the Lord put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the Lord said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth. (Jeremiah 1:9, KJV)
What if the words you speak could carry the very power of God? In Jeremiah 1:9, God touches the prophet’s mouth, filling it with His words—empowering Jeremiah to face opposition, declare truth, and bring hope to a weary nation. Let’s explore what it means to have God’s words in our mouths and how this truth can transform our conversations, prayers, and purpose.
God placing His words into a prophet’s mouth is a recurring theme in the Old Testament. When He called Isaiah, He also touched Isaiah’s mouth and placed His words there (Isaiah 6:1-6; 51:16).
But what does it mean to have God’s words in one’s mouth? Two terms to understand here are “put” and “mouth.” God puts His words specifically in Jeremiah’s mouth, not merely his heart. And it’s not just the Word but His words intended to be spoken.
Grasping the significance of God’s words in the mouth is essential. Although the Word in our hearts is vital, here God highlights the mouth because He intends these words to be spoken. This is at the heart of prophecy.
Prophecy operates on two pillars: knowledge and utterance. When God places His words in the prophets’ mouths, they gain both knowledge of His mind and the authority to declare His words as though spoken directly by God Himself. This wisdom and authority allowed them to speak with God’s power and produce the same impact as if God Himself had spoken.
Consider this profound truth: God touched Jeremiah’s mouth to put His words there. This touch was instant, not a gradual revelation. God didn’t give Jeremiah a scroll of all future messages; rather, He imparted prophetic insight and the power to speak with authority. Speaking God’s words goes beyond recitation—it involves a spiritual ability to declare with wisdom and power.
Although not explicitly stated, this touch often included the impartation of the Holy Spirit. Prophets were empowered by the Spirit to speak God’s words effectively.
Now, here is something awe-inspiring: when God gave us the Holy Spirit in Christ, He essentially touched our mouths to speak His words with wisdom and power. God has indeed placed His words in our mouths. Ephesians 6:17 describes the Word as the “sword of the Spirit,” a powerful weapon in spiritual battle. When, like Jesus, we declare God’s words, we essentially destroy the devil as a soldier destroying the enemy with a swords. Similarly, when we speak to mountains by the Spirit, we can remove them. Why? Because God’s words are in our mouths!
These examples highlight the power of God’s words when spoken through us. Whether through prophetic utterances, confessing the Word, teaching, or speaking to circumstances—do not keep your mouth shut. Circumstances shift when your mouth releases the Word, and even angels move when you speak, because you are releasing God’s words (Psalm 103:20)!
Meditate
Think about this carefully: do you truly believe that as a believer in Christ, God’s words reside in your mouth?
Act on the Word
Speak God’s words. This is not a pentecostal or charismatic idea but divine truth. Some things will only change when you learn to speak God’s words—whether against challenges as Jesus did, against difficulties, or through teaching and prophetic utterance. Open your mouth and speak the words of God.
Pray
Thank the Father for placing His words in your mouth. Ask Him for the grace to understand and fully believe this truth. Pray for the courage to speak His words with faith and authority.
Recommended Read
- The Two Perceptive Arms of the Prophetic
- Prophecy and Prophets in the New Testament
- How the prophetic works: two operational arms
- Two dimensions of the prophetic in the New Testament
- Taking the Sword of the Spirit for spiritual warfare
- All Devotionals
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