Temporary” has become my favorite word to speak over my problems lately.

The Bible tells me I can speak to my mountains of difficulty and tell them to move. So I’ve been serving notice on trying times and letting them know that my trouble won’t last forever. It’s only temporary.

Recently I heard a message by Dr. Antipas Harris in which he mentioned “Three P’s: Problems, Prayer and Praise.”

Dr. Harris acknowledged that everybody has problems; if we didn’t, none of us would know that God is a problem solver. I don’t like having problems, but I appreciate the “Three P’s,” because they help me grow stronger in my faith.

When I speak to my problems and pray without ceasing as I praise God with all my being, I believe victory is mine. Although I don’t have to use a loud voice when I pray or praise, the Bible tells me I must use my faith.

“And without faith, it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).

Out of the fullness of my heart my mouth speaks, so when my heart is full of faith, my mouth speaks faith-filled words. I believe God, the devil and others hear it when I speak to my problems, say a prayer, and talk about God’s goodness.

By proclaiming, praying and praising Him, I reaffirm what I believe, stomp on the devil’s head and encourage others to do the same.

“The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit” (Proverbs 18:21). Jesus used his mouth to curse a fig tree that wasn’t bearing any fruit. But He also used the creative power of His tongue to pray, praise and create eyes for a blind man, to heal a woman with an issue of blood and to raise His friend, Lazarus, from the grave.

Jesus showed us how to speak to our obstacles and problems when He said, “…If anyone says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.“ (Mark 11:23)

My husband and I tell our children, “You can have what you say.” Those words seem to encourage and warn them about the power of words spoken in faith.

“For by our words we will be justified and by our words, we will be condemned” (Matthew 12:37). With God’s help, we can say what He says then watch Him change our situations. May we speak life in spite of our problems and declare our faith through prayer and praise.

Tonya Swindell writes a blog for www.inspirenewlife.org and a teacher for Kingdom Building Equipping School (KBES.com). She can be reached at 1brightot@gmail.com.