Declarations of Life or Death
Guest Contributor: Jill Blue
This guest feature is shared in partnership with Jill Blue, whose personal story illustrates the deep impact our words can have on how we think, heal, and move forward.
The Power of Words: Declarations of Life or Death
By Jill Blue
Growing up, I often heard people in church say things like “Life and death are in the power of your tongue” and “What you say matters.” They were referencing Proverbs 18:21 that says, “Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit” HCSB or as The Message Bible conveys, “Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit—you choose.” Although I had heard that it was essential to ‘speak life and not death,’ I did not fully understand why. It felt to me as though my little words held no power, either positively or negatively. I didn't think what I said held much weight.
I often looked into the mirror and was disgusted by the reflection I saw. It felt as though God made a mistake when he made me. I believed my hair was too curly, my body too fat, my nose was the wrong shape…the list could go on and on. I beat myself up, especially in the confines of my own mind, and I thought worse about myself than my worst enemy. Years and years of these devastating thoughts and words led to physical ailments and a shell of a life.
I experienced life through a lens of grief, rejection, depression, and self-hatred. This led me to believe that the negative things I spoke about myself were just the truth and that I was being honest about how flawed I was. It never occurred to me that I was continuing that brokenness through my confession. Mark 11:23-24 says: “Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” When we confess, which is to declare or acknowledge, we establish. For many years, I established lies, all the while believing them to be true.
In 2018, a friend challenged me to stop “speaking death” over myself. She called me out in love and told me that I was partnering with lies instead of truth. I was completely caught off guard. The Lord used her words to stop me in my tracks. I was suddenly deeply convicted to repent for treating myself with such disrespect. I realized for the first time that I was dishonoring God by way of dishonoring myself. The Lord began to renew my mind and teach me that he has called me his daughter and filled me with his Spirit. This knowledge changed everything. I began to speak life and truth over myself, which in turn helped heal my body and mind.
This healing transformed every aspect of my life, including my career. I shifted from traditional counseling into the role of a Holy Spirit- Led Life Coach, assisting clients in finding freedom through the power of God’s love and the work of the Holy Spirit. As a coach, I have the honor of walking with clients side by side with the One who knows and loves them, and into freedom through a deeper intimacy with God. I have seen many individuals who are also struggling to speak life over themselves and their lives. I gently challenge them, as my friend did with me, to begin to speak only what God says about them. This shift moves them into marvelous light and out of bondage. I have the privilege of witnessing miracles take place, from mental health being restored to marriages being reunited and children coming home. It is a gift to be included in the process.
In 2020, I felt an impression from the Lord to begin writing a book about the healing the Lord had done in my life. In December 2024, Weightless: Receiving Freedom from Lies About Your Weight & Value was published. Weightless shares the redemptive work of Jesus in my life and how his healing truth broke me free from obesity and spiritual bondage. Each chapter invites the reader to take inventory of areas they are allowing lies to be established in their lives, to repent, renounce, and take back the territory to the glory of God. It is an interactive book that asks the Holy Spirit to take His place in the heart of the reader and challenges them to release control and receive joy.
I pray for those reading that you will enjoy the life Jesus died for you to experience and that “…as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in [union with] Him [reflecting His character in the things you do and say—living lives that lead others away from sin], having been deeply rooted [in Him] and now being continually built up in Him and [becoming increasingly more] established in your faith, just as you were taught, and overflowing in it with gratitude.” Col 2:7 AMP
You can find Weightless here.
Jill Blue is a Holy Spirit- led Life Coach with a heart to guide others into the freedom she’s experienced in her own life. Jill is passionate about seeing others find wholeness in Christ, and she dedicates her life to helping women and individuals uncover the truth of their identity in Christ. Jill’s compassionate and Spirit-driven approach is marked by gentle but firm guidance, encouraging each person she works with to listen to the Holy Spirit, trust God’s promises, and discover the transformative love of Jesus.
About the Contributor
Jill Blue is a life coach who walks alongside women as they break free from old narratives and build a renewed sense of identity and confidence. Her work encourages individuals to embrace truth, release what weighs them down, and step into a more grounded way of living.
Learn more at: coachjillblue.com
Explore her book: Weightless: Receiving Freedom from Lies About Your Weight & Value
