Proverbs 22:12 (NKJV) says that “God overthrows the words of the faithless.”  As I pondered that verse, it appeared that faithless words carelessly spoken can have substance enough that at some point we need to ask God to overthrow them (See James 3 on the power of the tongue).  The more I reflected, the more convicted I became that in moments of desperation, discouragement and fierce economic challenges, I was one who had spoken faithless words about ARM that I needed to ask God to overthrow.

At our recent Board and Council meeting called the Gathering, I had the participants stand and face two sets of open doors, acknowledging as Paul said in I Corinthians 16, that God has “opened doors for effective ministry before us and there are obstacles.”  As they faced the open doors, I placed faithless words and phrases that I had spoken over the ministry on placards and stood them between the participants and the open doors.  I shared with them the journey of repentance that I am on and offered the opportunity for all of us to ask God to overthrow any faithless words we have spoken about ARM.  Hope and courage began to arise as we recognized that if God overthrows the words of the faithless, we can also trust Him to establish the words of the faithful. 

So, we walked forward inviting God to overthrow faithless words, renouncing judgments and vows spoken over ARM’s finances, resources and future.  The placards were literally under our feet as we crossed the threshold thanking God for overthrowing the words of the faithless and for establishing the words of the faithful.  After the last persons crossed the threshold, the doors were closed and we vowed, much like the song “I Will Never Be the Same” says: we can never return - we’ve closed the door.  We committed to not speak faithless words about ARM, but instead to declare faith-filled words that we believe God spoke to us throughout the meetings about ARM’s finances, resources and future.  This prophetic walk was a significant experience that erupted in shouts of praise and thanksgiving as we stood out in the front yard of the ARC. 

I want to encourage you that the Truth of Proverbs 22:12 doesn’t apply just to organizations.  I believe that it also applies to individuals, particularly as God invites us through open doors of ministry opportunities.  As we take steps towards the open door, sometimes faithless words that we have reiterated about ourselves, our life, our resources or our future can set themselves up against our knowledge of God.  Hear the Good News!  2 Corinthians 10:4-5 tells us that God demolishes those things that set themselves up against our knowledge of Him.  God challenges us to take our thoughts captive and to make them obedient to Christ.  God can overthrow the words of the faithless and free you to courageously cross the threshold before you, replacing faithless words with the Truth of God’s Word.

As composer Shawn Craig writes, “Beyond the open door is a new and fresh anointing.  Hear the Spirit calling you to go.  Walk on through the door for the Lord will go before you into a greater power you’ve never known before.”