Your Words

Guest post by Linda Young

Inspired by my coach, Dr. Mike Harrison, I decided to pursue a Master’s degree from Liberty Theological Seminary. “If you don’t apply yourself to personal growth, you will be in the same place next year that you are right now,” is a quote of Dr. Mike’s that still rings in my ear today.  Among the many Biblical courses he teaches, leadership coaching is his passion. 

Fulfilling the requirements of college at a master’s level, when one is well past 50, can be challenging. I felt I had earned the right to whine and complain – several times a day. Let’s face it; college was made for twenty year olds.

As I prepared to teach at Walk in the Light, my subject was, “Your Future is in Your Mouth.”  While studying Scripture, I clearly saw how I was getting ready to tell others how they can speak life instead of death, and how they gauge what’s in their hearts by what’s coming out of their mouths. I was speaking about success, but doing just the opposite. My joy drained as every negative word left my lips. Conviction flooded over me! I was hearing the word, but not doing the word. Gently the Holy Spirit began to minister to me.

He encouraged me to call those things that are not as though they were. He showed me the story of Abraham and how God changed his name from “Abram” (exalted father) to “Abraham” (a father of many nations) when he had no children and his wife Sarah was 90 years old (Genesis 17).

Abraham wasn’t pretending to appear successful, nor was he using “The Power of Positive Thinking.” What he was doing was agreeing with what God had already spoken. The light bulb came on!

When people ask me now, “How is school going?” I smile and say, “Great! Things are getting easier each day.” Just hearing those words makes me happy!

Linda Young is a passionate author and teacher who delights in seeing lives transformed with the message of God’s goodness and unconditional love through Linda Young Ministries – www.LindaYoungMinistries.com. She is a conference speaker and women’s retreat leader known for her vibrant, yet down-to-earth-teaching style, packed with encouragement and from a place of genuine love for people. Linda is a graduate of Liberty Theological Seminary and is a member of the pastoral staff at Church 212° in Palm Desert, CA. She and her husband, Ray, make their home in Rancho Mirage, CA. They have six grown children and three grandchildren.