There are some people in my life that say the f-word all the time. And I’ll be honest—it gets under my skin. The more I hear it, the more I find myself reacting with frustration.
But one day, God nudged my heart with this thought: “What if you replaced their f-word with one of Mine?”
That little spark has grown into a practice I now call my God-Inspired F-Words. These are words that build me up instead of tearing me down. Words rooted in Scripture that give me something life-giving to focus on, even when negativity swirls around me.
Fortress: My Anchor Word
The first word that leapt into my spirit was Fortress.
“The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” – Psalm 18:2
Every time someone lets the f-word fly, I whisper back (in my heart or even quietly under my breath), “Fortress.” It’s my way of stepping inside God’s protection. I picture stone walls rising around me, shielding me from words that sting. Suddenly, instead of reacting, I feel safe. Covered. Guarded.
Other God-Inspired F-Words
I started building a whole toolkit of God’s F-words. Here are some I keep close:
- Faith – My trust is in God, not in the chaos around me. (Hebrews 11:1)
- Freedom – Christ has set me free from chains of negativity. (Galatians 5:1)
- Flourish – God makes me thrive even in hard soil. (Psalm 92:12)
- Forgiveness – I release offense and walk in peace. (Colossians 3:13)
Each word has a verse and a little breath prayer I can lean on. And each one shifts my focus back where it belongs—on God’s truth.
A Simple Practice
Here’s how I use it:
- Hear the word. Others say their version.
- Breathe and respond. I say one of mine: Fortress. Faith. Freedom. Flourish. Forgiveness.
- Visualize it. I picture the protection, freedom, or growth God promises.
It’s become like a call-and-response with God. What once triggered irritation now triggers prayer.
Reflection
You don’t have to absorb the negativity around you. You can let God be your fortress. When others’ words fly, let them be a cue to declare one of God’s words instead.
✨ Friend, what about you? If you could choose your own God-inspired F-word today, what would it be? Fortress? Faith? Flourish? Freedom? Forgiveness?
Leave me a comment—I’d love to hear what word you’re holding onto right now.