Self-Fulfilling Prophecy: Your Words Shape Your Reality

Self-fulfilling prophecy occurs when a person unknowingly causes a prediction about themselves (by themselves) to come true, simply because they expect it to come true – as their expectation affects their behaviour, ‘acting as if it is already true’.

What Is a Self-Fulfilling Prophecy?

As by thinking, expecting and acting a certain way we can, in some measure, help to bring about events in our lives, so be careful of what you speak over your life, or that of others, as it can be a case of “Your punishment is already determined by your testimony…What I feared has come upon me” (1 Kgs 20:40; Job 3:25).

“We are not able to go in” doomed the Israelites of accountability age so they could not enter into their rightful possession, for in response to saying, “If only we had died in Egypt…or in this desert…” the Lord declared, “I will do the very thing I heard you say” (Num 13:31-32, 14:2,21-35).

In contrast what He permits we can do, for although it may be outside our comfort zone, we should have optimism that with Him “We are well able…” (Num 13:30). We are on the winning side so focus on who supports you, rather than what is against. As thoughts can become beliefs that we live out, it is important to have a correct or right opinion of ourselves and know our position in Christ as a victor, regardless of what opposes us, believing things are working for our good and He will not allow anything to occur than we can’t handle with His help (Rom 8:28, 12:3; 1 Cor 10:13).

Don’t talk yourself out of what is rightfully yours

Those who said they couldn’t enter the Promised Land, their God-given possession, didn’t (along with all those who agreed with that mindset), while those who said we can eventually did. Those who say they can, and those who say they can’t are both right.

The Power of Your Words

It is vital to feed the right information into our mind for “As a person thinks in their heart so they are” with this revealed in our attitude to life as the Bible declares “Decree a thing and it shall come to pass...life and death are in the power of the tongue” (Job 22:28; Prov 18:21, 23:7). This is not a magical or mystical concept but a law established by God whereby our words empower the invisible spirit beings to bring about in some measure what we have declared, for potentially they are beneficial to life or are destructive and produce death.

We can receive the positive words spoken to us or repel the negative statements made with ‘In Jesus name I do not accept that’. This explains the correlation between what we experience in our lives with the power behind any blessing or curse that we have been subject to and accepted. Our minds attempt to bring into reality whatever we focus upon, so bring all destructive, irrational thoughts into submission before they subvert you.

Get rid of all limiting ‘I can’t…I’m scared’ attitudes, replacing them with wholesome statements such as “I can do all things (that He requires of me) through Christ who gives me strength” (Rom 12:2; 2 Cor 10:4-5; Phil 4:8,13). This is not just ‘mind over matter’; rather it is proclaiming the truth and promises of God over your life. “Do not let any unwholesome (unbeneficial) words proceed from your mouth” (Eph 4:29).

We are also told to “Speak to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Eph 5:19; Col 3:16). This is more than good advice about music — it is a principle of right input producing right fruit. What we constantly listen to, read, sing and dwell upon is sown into the heart, and the heart eventually speaks its harvest back out through our attitude, our self-talk and our words. Feed the mind on Scripture, worship and wholesome content and the fruit will be faith, peace and optimism; feed it on complaint, fear and ungodly media and the harvest will be the very negativity we then confess over our lives (Gal 6:7-8; Phil 4:8). So be deliberate about your input, for what fills the heart ultimately directs the mouth, and the mouth sets the course of your life.

Maintain a positive, optimistic approach to life, seeing situations as challenges to overcome, rather than roadblocks, as misconstrued beliefs set a limit on our potential, and thus what we could achieve, by shaping our character and influencing all we do in life.

Guard Your Speech

Words are traps we set for ourselves that give Satan opportunity to attack, defeat and hold us in bondage, for a fool’s words ensnare their soul because unwise words are just as effective as wise ones, so don’t be quick to speak or make vows (Jdg 11:30-31,34-39; Eccl 5:2,4-6; Prov 6:2-3, 15:28, 18:7; Mt 14:6-10).

What messages do I tell myself?

We need the Holy Spirit’s help, along with self-control especially when tired, stressed, angry or feeling down so we don’t speak negative words to others and direct damaging messages to ourselves through self-talk, which can become self-fulfilling prophecy (Ps 17:3; Prov 13:3; Gal 5:22-23; Jas 3:7-10). So be careful what you speak as through our words we empower or give authority for blessings and curses on ourselves and others to be fulfilled (Job 3:25; Prov 12:13).

What we believe and speak about ourselves can have huge ramifications as our words testify and condemn us, “Your own mouth testified against you”, as to a large measure we determine if we enter into what God has purposed (2 Sam 1:16; Lk 19:22; Act 5:1-11). We should only speak good positive things, not destructive negative words, because what we say gives the unseen yet powerful spiritual realm extra impetus to bring forth what we align ourselves with.

We are instructed to “Build ourselves up in our holy faith…” (Jud 1:20). Yet how often do we tear ourselves down, with our self-esteem suffering? Satan’s aim is to destroy what is of God – don’t assist him but instead work with God to be what He had designed you to be. Every man’s words will be his burden, which highlights the principle of sowing and reaping, confirming the indisputable link between what we say and what we experience. Thus as we produce conditions that are conducive to bring our confession into reality, we must ensure our speech agrees with the will and Word of God (Jer 23:36; Gal 6:7-8).

Reflection and Application:

Speak positive, faith-filled words over your life and that of others.
Replace limiting ‘I can’t…I’m scared’ attitudes with “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength”.
Refuse destructive statements made over you with ‘In Jesus name I do not accept that’.
Bring every destructive, irrational thought into submission before it becomes your reality.