You can change your world by changing your words... Remember, death and life are in the power of the tongue.

This line reflects Joel Osteen’s recurring “positive confession” theme in sermons and motivational Christian teaching, where spoken words are treated as spiritually consequential and psychologically formative. Osteen frequently pairs contemporary self-help language (“change your world”) with biblical proof texts, especially Proverbs 18:21 (“Death and life are in the power of the tongue”), to urge listeners to avoid negative self-talk and to speak faith, hope, and blessing over their circumstances. The quote is characteristic of his Lakewood Church preaching and his popular books, but without a verified transcript or publication reference, the precise occasion and date cannot be pinned down with confidence.

The quote argues that language is not merely descriptive but generative: what you repeatedly say shapes what you expect, attempt, and ultimately experience. By invoking Proverbs 18:21, it frames speech as morally and spiritually potent—capable of encouraging, healing, and building up (“life”) or discouraging, harming, and undermining (“death”). In Osteen’s typical usage, the point is both practical and devotional: disciplined, hopeful speech trains the mind toward possibility and aligns the believer with God’s promises. It also implies responsibility: careless words can damage relationships and self-conception, while intentional words can cultivate resilience and purpose.