The Answer Is Right Under Your Nose

Recently my husband was trying to get out of the house in time to catch a store before it closed. Only there was one problem…our toddler hid his wallet! As we tried to retrace her steps and even trying to get her to look, it seemed a little hopeless. After I finished feeding the baby, I silently asked the Lord to show me where it was. I then heard Him say “The answer is right under your nose.” “Well what does that mean?” I thought to myself. I misinterpreted it to mean maybe under the chair I had been sitting in. Nope. Not under there. I began to go all around the house still coming up empty. As my despair grew, I said out loud, “Lord show me where it is. Help.” I then made my way to our bedroom in a last ditch effort. I closed the door. Looked around taking in the possibilities of places a toddler might hide something. Suddenly out of the blue, I thought to look on the bed under the blankets. Then a host of angels sang and the wallet glowed a golden hue and floated into my hands. Okay. No it didn’t, but I found it!

The very next morning, I was watching Joyce Meyer preach on the topic of doubt. As the music started to play that the show was closing something she said jolted me. She said “The answer is right under your nose.” Did I just hear that right? She was saying the way to cast out doubt was by opening your mouth and speaking!

I have been recognizing the power of audibly, verbally, speaking to my situations, big and small. Think of a marriage. One spouse may be doing things to show their love however, what the person really wants is to hear “I love you.” There is something about hearing the words that activates a response. If I am drowning I yell out for help. I don’t think it in my head and hope the life guard telepathically knows I’m in trouble! That would be insane. My yelling for help activates the life guard to jump in and save me. So if we have full access to an all powerful God, why is it not our first response when we are in trouble?

The bible encourages us to speak. The bible is full of scriptures about the confession of our mouths. With the confession of our mouths we receive salvation (Rom 10:9), speak to the mountain in faith (Mk 11:23), ask and you shall receive (Mt 7:7) speak to the dry bones; the dead areas of our lives (Ezek 37). God asks us to open our mouths. I love how the Message puts Proverbs 18:21 “Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit—you choose.” Our words have the power to change things either by affecting our situation and/or changing us. When I speak words of life, my depression can lift. When I speak life into my marriage, I feel my love for my spouse growing. Now I see the man I married and not just a guy I’m tolerating. When I speak and ask for God’s help, He helps me.

How do I find and speak these words of life? The foundation is found in God’s word. How do I know who I am, what I can have, what I can overcome? God’s word told me. When I feel hopeless I can speak Psalms 3:2-4 "They talk about me and say, “God will not help him.” But you, O LORD, are always my shield from danger; you give me victory and restore my courage. I call to the LORD for help, and from his sacred hill he answers me.” When I am struggling with temptation, 1 Corinthians 15:57 “But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.” There is literally a scripture to help us in every circumstance and the more we speak them the more it seeps into our inner most being.

Personally, I have put scriptures on my bathroom mirror. Every time I’m washing my hands or brushing my teeth I can look up and confess that scripture. We also can sing praise and worship songs. When faced with an impossible situation put “All things are possible” by Hillsong on repeat. The bible says out of the mouth the heart speaks (Lk 6:45). It all ties together. I speak life even though I don’t “feel” it yet, and eventually I will. I speak life because that’s what I’ve put in my heart by spending time with God. It is a circle.

When I feel overwhelmed, the answer is right under my nose. When I am feeling sick, the answer is right under my nose. When my toddler hides my things, the answer is right under my nose. I can use my mouth to ask God for His help. I can use my mouth to speak into my circumstances. Again, my situation may not change immediately, drastically, or at all, but God will change me. He may not change a frustrating coworker, but I have grown in patience. What made me mad before rolls right off me now. The point is to open up our mouths and speak. James 4:2 tells us we don’t have what we want because we don’t ask. I want to make sure I am not missing out on blessings, help, strength, encouragement, just because I didn’t open my mouth and speak.