Post by Cindy on Nov 18, 2015 10:18:50 GMT -5
I've slowly been reading a book called Beautiful in God’s Eyes by Elizabeth George. As you might guess it's a study about the Proverbs 31 woman and she does a fantastic job. Of all the many things that make us beautiful in God's eyes though, the hardest one to acquire is being beautiful in our speech. That's hard because our speech shows what's in our hearts and because of our sin nature, our hearts have plenty of evil in them. Without God's help we could never have the kind of speech He requires of us, but with the mind of Christ, and abiding in Him, and a whole lot of practice, patience,prayer,and effort, we can. I am so impressed with how she nailed this particular character, I'd like to share it with you. I can't share the whole chapter, so I'll just be sharing excerpts of it. It's based on:“She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.” (Proverbs 31:26)
We’ve come a long way and climbed a far piece, but this matter of the tongue trips up many women in their journey toward becoming beautiful in God’s eyes. Beautiful speech is hard-won. It’s a minute-by-minute challenge. As one of the apostles writes, “If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man” (James 3:2)! ...
... speech is a matter of the heart: “Out of the abundance of the heart [the] mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45). To be truly beautiful in God’s eyes, you and I must push ahead and take this next difficult-but-beautiful step toward more godly speech. God wants His laws of wisdom and kindness to govern our speech—and our heart. ...
Wise in Speech
The speech of God’s beautiful woman truly is a fountain of life to those around her. Lemuel’s mother continues, “She opens her mouth with wisdom” (Proverbs 31:26). Note an important thought right away. The wording suggests that her mouth is not always open! She’s not a yapper or a compulsive talker or a jabber-mouth. Unless she has something wise and kind to say, her mouth is shut.
When she does speak, “she opens her mouth with wisdom.” She is wise in what she says and how she says it. Wisdom has long been defined as “the use of knowledge in a practical and successful way.” Simply scan through Proverbs 31 and note the practical topics young Prince Lemuel’s mother covered. She herself opened her mouth to impart wisdom—practical knowledge for living—to her precious son.
Kind in Heart
As Proverbs 31:26 continues, we see that “on her tongue is the law of kindness.” Not only does the woman we’re admiring let wisdom guide her speech, but she also limits it according to the law of kindness. All that she utters is in the spirit and manner of a gentle and benevolent heart, revealing a kindly disposition and a fear of unnecessarily offending. She acquires wisdom and limits her words accordingly. She is never hurtful or destructive with her words. As the Greek translation puts it, “she places order on her tongue.” ...
A note of interest (and challenge!) here: In ancient Jewish marriages, not only was the content of a woman’s speech important, but the volume of her voice was important as well. A woman could be divorced without a marriage settlement if she had a loud voice! How was “loud” measured? By the ability of her neighbors to hear her speak while in her own house. Take heed!
Absence of Malice
What’s true in art is also true of speech: What is not present makes a louder statement than what is. In light of that, consider what is absent from the words of God’s beautiful woman.
For starters, there is no gossip, slander, or unkindness toward others. Kindness would never do that! Nor is there any complaining. As a woman who fears the Lord, God’s beautiful woman knows that because He maintains perfect control over the circumstances of life, she really has nothing to complain about! Wit, humor, and jesting—especially at other people’s expense—are not how she wants to make her mark. Our beautiful lady would rather be known for her wisdom than her ability to entertain. And, opening her mouth wisely, she certainly says nothing indiscreet or unwholesome. Meaningless talk of trivia and trifles has also been erased from her speech. As a successful estate manager and businesswoman, she could be tempted to speak with an assertive voice, but again kindness rules her rhetoric. ....
The How-To’s of Beautiful Speech
... The Book of Proverbs, tucked into the middle of your Bible, offers invaluable, eternal wisdom, including some of God’s rules for godly speech. I’m delighted to share a few of them with you—the ones that have helped me the most and still do!
1. Establish two guidelines—God’s beautiful woman set two guidelines for her speech: 1) Speak only if the words are wise, and 2) speak only if the words are kind (Proverbs 31:26). By following these same two guidelines, you will always have something to say that’s worth saying (wisdom), and you’ll say it in the right way (with kindness)! You can know a lot, but if you speak unkindly, your words will be less effective.
2. Think before you speak—“The heart of the righteous studies how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil” (Proverbs 15:28). Literally pause and think about your words before you speak them. Make it your goal to carefully select wording that measures up to God’s standards of wisdom and kindness. When you aren’t careful, evil “gushes like a torrent”! Rash speech and quick temper betray a shallow and less than beautiful character.
3. Learn to wait—When something unpleasant happens, make it your first “law” to do and say nothing. If you must respond at the moment, be sure your words are soft because “a soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Proverbs 15:1). Then wait. Waiting buys you time to:
• Search the Scriptures and find out what God says about how to handle the situation.
• Seek counsel and find out what other wise people say. As Proverbs 15:14 cautions, “Where there is no counsel, the people fall.” Proverbs 28:26 warns, “He who trusts in his own heart is a fool.”
• Pray for a kind heart and a wise solution for the situation.
• Calm down! Cool down! Back off! As Proverbs 17:27 says, “A man of understanding is of a calm spirit.” Only when we are calm can we hear good counsel and make wise decisions.
• Weigh the problem. Decide whether the situation is something to pass over (“A man’s wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense.” Proverbs 19:11) or whether you need to “open” your mouth and address (with wisdom and kindness, of course!) the people involved.
• Consider the person involved: Is the offense out of character, or is it becoming a pattern? Is it a one-time failure or another in a string of repeated misbehavior?
4. Add sweetness to your speech—Wisdom possesses great charm when sweetened with the right words. That truth is behind Proverbs 16:21—“Sweetness of the lips increases learning.” Speaking pleasantly will always make others more willing to listen and be instructed. It’s true that a spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down!
5. Add persuasiveness to your speech—Besides being kind and speaking sweetly, know what you’re talking about. Your speech will always be an indicator of what is in your mind, and you want to display knowledge when you speak. When you speak with authority, when it’s obvious you know what you’re talking about, your words will be persuasive. True wisdom cannot fail to make a good impression.
6. Err on the side of less—When it comes to words, less is always best! Proverbs 10:19 says, “In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise.” Proverbs 17:28 points out that “even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace.” In contemporary language, “Better to be quiet and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt!” ...
An Invitation to Beauty
... Won’t you join me in making a commitment to refresh and encourage, to cheer and uplift the hearts of all you encounter with life-giving words, with words that are wise and kind? You can be a fountain of life. Rather than being “one who speaks like the piercings of a sword,” yours could be “the tongue of the wise [that] promotes health” (Proverbs 12:18). With God’s blessing, His love in your heart, and your careful choice of wise and kind words, you can help heal the downhearted.
And when you fail, dear one, remember this alphabet of wisdom regarding beautiful speech: Accept God’s challenge of speaking only wise and kind words, Be not discouraged, and Continue to try! That’s how you and I can continue to reach toward God’s beautiful standard!
George, E. (1998). Beautiful in God’s eyes
I loved that part about how "loud" was measured! I don't know how many times when I've lived in an apartment that I've been forced to overhear my neighbors arguments. Once I even tried to tell them how embarrassing it was to me to overhear their personal problems, but it didn't seem to phase them at all. It sure made an impression on me though & I was glad the Lord had taught me long ago to keep my voice quiet.
Speaking quietly works great with children too, and honestly it was when my children were just toddlers that the Lord showed me this. I'd noticed that it seemed like I was constantly raising my voice to try and get their attention so they wouldn't get hurt; but I'd also noticed that it didn't work. I was really frustrated! Then the Lord's quiet voice suggested doing the opposite. Why continue raising my voice if it wasn't working? So I tried it. The more upset I got, the quieter I made my voice. I was totally shocked by the results! The children instantly payed attention to me! Not just once, but every time! It continued to work as they got older and even when they were teenagers. What's funny is that now that they're all adults, it still works! If I really want to get something important across to them, something I want them to remember, all I have to do is say it quietly. I love it! The only drawback was that speaking quietly became such a habit, that I had to learn how to speak a little louder when I spoke on the phone, otherwise people were constantly saying, "what?" LOL .
When she spoke of Proverbs 19:11 and overlooking an offense, it reminds me that it brings glory to the Lord when we are like Him and forgive others. One way we can do that is by covering their sin with love. We see this in “Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers all transgressions.” Proverbs 10:12, “He who covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.” Proverbs 17:9,“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8 and we shouldn't forget: “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Matthew 6:14–15)
I've heard some women say that speaking like this just isn't their style, and they don't want to change. Some are older like me and probably feel that it would be silly to try and change this late in life. I can certainly understand how they feel, but what really hurts me is when I hear someone say that it isn't their style and God loves and accepts them just as they are. I just want to hug them to me and tell them that what they say is true, but that God didn't save them so they could stay like they were. He expected and still expects them to change and become the woman He created them to be. He expects that of all of us, no matter how old or young we are. It's never too early or too late to start living the way He tells us to and how we speak is a very large part of that since it reveals what's in our hearts. That's not just what I say, that's what Jesus says. “The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.” (Luke 6:45) and again: “You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”” (Matthew 12:34–37) Let me share what another of my books says about this as it's in my notes by these verses:
If we are going to enjoy the full benefit of Christ’s abundant life, our motives, actions, and words will need to line up with His Word. Most of us understand the importance of our motives and actions. However, the Bible also emphasizes the importance of our words. Jesus said, “For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart” (Matt. 12:34). If we realize we are saying things that don’t agree with what God says, we need to stop and remember, “In Christ, I’m better than that!” We can choose to put good words that agree with His truth into our hearts, knowing that words carry power.
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit” (Prov. 18:21). This verse gives all new meaning to the phrase “I had to eat my words.” Do you want your words to produce life or death? You get to decide.
Years ago in the margin of my Bible I wrote, “I will use my tongue to speak words of life.” I’ve purposed to live in that truth, even though I’ve sometimes fallen short.
How does this apply? Maybe you’re having a particularly difficult day. You may feel like nothing is going your way. Those are the times when you’re tempted to say, “This is an awful day. Nothing ever goes right for me!” Who did those words just agree with—the enemy or God? Maybe you’re thinking, “Well, that’s how I feel some days, and I’m not going to lie about it.” But there is a greater truth available to you than your feelings—God’s Word. His words are more important and powerful than how you feel. His words can produce life even when you feel at your worst—because He is life. You could say, “God, today’s a challenging day, but I’m not going to let it get me down. The Greater One lives in me! Thank You that You’re working all things together for good because I love You and follow You. Thank You that no weapon formed against me will prosper.” Which words would you rather eat? One set of words is negative and will work against you—they cooperate with the enemy. As one of my friends said this week, “I do not want to be doing the work of the enemy!” The other words will bring you up to a higher level than your emotions; they cooperate with God’s will. Speak words that agree with God, words that will stir your faith and unleash His purpose in your life. Grisham, N., & Mittelberg, M. (2013). Thriving: Trusting god for life to the fullest
The most seemingly insignificant sin—even a slip of the tongue—carries the full potential of all hell’s evil (cf. James 3:6). No infraction against God’s holiness is therefore a trifling thing, and each person will ultimately give account of every such indiscretion. There is no truer indication of a bad tree than the bad fruit of speech. The poisonous snakes were known by their poisonous mouths revealing evil hearts (cf. Luke 6:45). Every person is judged by his words, because they reveal the state of his heart. The MacArthur study Bible
There really is tremendous power in the words we speak, and their power doesn't end when they're spoken. The power of our words can continue through the lifetime of the people who hear them. “From the fruit of his mouth a man’s stomach is filled; with the harvest from his lips he is satisfied. The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” (Proverbs 18:20–21) I also realized that often people other than the one we're speaking to hear our words and can also be affected for a lifetime. That's just another reason to heed God's Word and be very careful of what we speak. More then that, we need to remember that our words come from what's stored in our hearts and therefore do all we can to make sure that it's God's Word that's in our hearts, not the worlds so called wisdom. We have the power to bless, heal, curse, or destroy with our words: “The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked.” (Proverbs 10:11) “The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of judgment.” (Proverbs 10:21) “With his mouth the godless destroys his neighbor, but through knowledge the righteous escape.” (Proverbs 11:9) One last thing to remember is that we will not only be judged by God for every word we speak but we will also reap what we sow here and now: “From the fruit of his lips a man is filled with good things as surely as the work of his hands rewards him.” (Proverbs 12:14) “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.” (Galatians 6:7–8)
We’ve come a long way and climbed a far piece, but this matter of the tongue trips up many women in their journey toward becoming beautiful in God’s eyes. Beautiful speech is hard-won. It’s a minute-by-minute challenge. As one of the apostles writes, “If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man” (James 3:2)! ...
... speech is a matter of the heart: “Out of the abundance of the heart [the] mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45). To be truly beautiful in God’s eyes, you and I must push ahead and take this next difficult-but-beautiful step toward more godly speech. God wants His laws of wisdom and kindness to govern our speech—and our heart. ...
Wise in Speech
The speech of God’s beautiful woman truly is a fountain of life to those around her. Lemuel’s mother continues, “She opens her mouth with wisdom” (Proverbs 31:26). Note an important thought right away. The wording suggests that her mouth is not always open! She’s not a yapper or a compulsive talker or a jabber-mouth. Unless she has something wise and kind to say, her mouth is shut.
When she does speak, “she opens her mouth with wisdom.” She is wise in what she says and how she says it. Wisdom has long been defined as “the use of knowledge in a practical and successful way.” Simply scan through Proverbs 31 and note the practical topics young Prince Lemuel’s mother covered. She herself opened her mouth to impart wisdom—practical knowledge for living—to her precious son.
Kind in Heart
As Proverbs 31:26 continues, we see that “on her tongue is the law of kindness.” Not only does the woman we’re admiring let wisdom guide her speech, but she also limits it according to the law of kindness. All that she utters is in the spirit and manner of a gentle and benevolent heart, revealing a kindly disposition and a fear of unnecessarily offending. She acquires wisdom and limits her words accordingly. She is never hurtful or destructive with her words. As the Greek translation puts it, “she places order on her tongue.” ...
A note of interest (and challenge!) here: In ancient Jewish marriages, not only was the content of a woman’s speech important, but the volume of her voice was important as well. A woman could be divorced without a marriage settlement if she had a loud voice! How was “loud” measured? By the ability of her neighbors to hear her speak while in her own house. Take heed!
Absence of Malice
What’s true in art is also true of speech: What is not present makes a louder statement than what is. In light of that, consider what is absent from the words of God’s beautiful woman.
For starters, there is no gossip, slander, or unkindness toward others. Kindness would never do that! Nor is there any complaining. As a woman who fears the Lord, God’s beautiful woman knows that because He maintains perfect control over the circumstances of life, she really has nothing to complain about! Wit, humor, and jesting—especially at other people’s expense—are not how she wants to make her mark. Our beautiful lady would rather be known for her wisdom than her ability to entertain. And, opening her mouth wisely, she certainly says nothing indiscreet or unwholesome. Meaningless talk of trivia and trifles has also been erased from her speech. As a successful estate manager and businesswoman, she could be tempted to speak with an assertive voice, but again kindness rules her rhetoric. ....
The How-To’s of Beautiful Speech
... The Book of Proverbs, tucked into the middle of your Bible, offers invaluable, eternal wisdom, including some of God’s rules for godly speech. I’m delighted to share a few of them with you—the ones that have helped me the most and still do!
1. Establish two guidelines—God’s beautiful woman set two guidelines for her speech: 1) Speak only if the words are wise, and 2) speak only if the words are kind (Proverbs 31:26). By following these same two guidelines, you will always have something to say that’s worth saying (wisdom), and you’ll say it in the right way (with kindness)! You can know a lot, but if you speak unkindly, your words will be less effective.
2. Think before you speak—“The heart of the righteous studies how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil” (Proverbs 15:28). Literally pause and think about your words before you speak them. Make it your goal to carefully select wording that measures up to God’s standards of wisdom and kindness. When you aren’t careful, evil “gushes like a torrent”! Rash speech and quick temper betray a shallow and less than beautiful character.
3. Learn to wait—When something unpleasant happens, make it your first “law” to do and say nothing. If you must respond at the moment, be sure your words are soft because “a soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Proverbs 15:1). Then wait. Waiting buys you time to:
• Search the Scriptures and find out what God says about how to handle the situation.
• Seek counsel and find out what other wise people say. As Proverbs 15:14 cautions, “Where there is no counsel, the people fall.” Proverbs 28:26 warns, “He who trusts in his own heart is a fool.”
• Pray for a kind heart and a wise solution for the situation.
• Calm down! Cool down! Back off! As Proverbs 17:27 says, “A man of understanding is of a calm spirit.” Only when we are calm can we hear good counsel and make wise decisions.
• Weigh the problem. Decide whether the situation is something to pass over (“A man’s wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense.” Proverbs 19:11) or whether you need to “open” your mouth and address (with wisdom and kindness, of course!) the people involved.
• Consider the person involved: Is the offense out of character, or is it becoming a pattern? Is it a one-time failure or another in a string of repeated misbehavior?
4. Add sweetness to your speech—Wisdom possesses great charm when sweetened with the right words. That truth is behind Proverbs 16:21—“Sweetness of the lips increases learning.” Speaking pleasantly will always make others more willing to listen and be instructed. It’s true that a spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down!
5. Add persuasiveness to your speech—Besides being kind and speaking sweetly, know what you’re talking about. Your speech will always be an indicator of what is in your mind, and you want to display knowledge when you speak. When you speak with authority, when it’s obvious you know what you’re talking about, your words will be persuasive. True wisdom cannot fail to make a good impression.
6. Err on the side of less—When it comes to words, less is always best! Proverbs 10:19 says, “In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise.” Proverbs 17:28 points out that “even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace.” In contemporary language, “Better to be quiet and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt!” ...
An Invitation to Beauty
... Won’t you join me in making a commitment to refresh and encourage, to cheer and uplift the hearts of all you encounter with life-giving words, with words that are wise and kind? You can be a fountain of life. Rather than being “one who speaks like the piercings of a sword,” yours could be “the tongue of the wise [that] promotes health” (Proverbs 12:18). With God’s blessing, His love in your heart, and your careful choice of wise and kind words, you can help heal the downhearted.
And when you fail, dear one, remember this alphabet of wisdom regarding beautiful speech: Accept God’s challenge of speaking only wise and kind words, Be not discouraged, and Continue to try! That’s how you and I can continue to reach toward God’s beautiful standard!
George, E. (1998). Beautiful in God’s eyes
I loved that part about how "loud" was measured! I don't know how many times when I've lived in an apartment that I've been forced to overhear my neighbors arguments. Once I even tried to tell them how embarrassing it was to me to overhear their personal problems, but it didn't seem to phase them at all. It sure made an impression on me though & I was glad the Lord had taught me long ago to keep my voice quiet.
Speaking quietly works great with children too, and honestly it was when my children were just toddlers that the Lord showed me this. I'd noticed that it seemed like I was constantly raising my voice to try and get their attention so they wouldn't get hurt; but I'd also noticed that it didn't work. I was really frustrated! Then the Lord's quiet voice suggested doing the opposite. Why continue raising my voice if it wasn't working? So I tried it. The more upset I got, the quieter I made my voice. I was totally shocked by the results! The children instantly payed attention to me! Not just once, but every time! It continued to work as they got older and even when they were teenagers. What's funny is that now that they're all adults, it still works! If I really want to get something important across to them, something I want them to remember, all I have to do is say it quietly. I love it! The only drawback was that speaking quietly became such a habit, that I had to learn how to speak a little louder when I spoke on the phone, otherwise people were constantly saying, "what?" LOL .
When she spoke of Proverbs 19:11 and overlooking an offense, it reminds me that it brings glory to the Lord when we are like Him and forgive others. One way we can do that is by covering their sin with love. We see this in “Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers all transgressions.” Proverbs 10:12, “He who covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.” Proverbs 17:9,“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8 and we shouldn't forget: “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Matthew 6:14–15)
I've heard some women say that speaking like this just isn't their style, and they don't want to change. Some are older like me and probably feel that it would be silly to try and change this late in life. I can certainly understand how they feel, but what really hurts me is when I hear someone say that it isn't their style and God loves and accepts them just as they are. I just want to hug them to me and tell them that what they say is true, but that God didn't save them so they could stay like they were. He expected and still expects them to change and become the woman He created them to be. He expects that of all of us, no matter how old or young we are. It's never too early or too late to start living the way He tells us to and how we speak is a very large part of that since it reveals what's in our hearts. That's not just what I say, that's what Jesus says. “The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.” (Luke 6:45) and again: “You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”” (Matthew 12:34–37) Let me share what another of my books says about this as it's in my notes by these verses:
If we are going to enjoy the full benefit of Christ’s abundant life, our motives, actions, and words will need to line up with His Word. Most of us understand the importance of our motives and actions. However, the Bible also emphasizes the importance of our words. Jesus said, “For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart” (Matt. 12:34). If we realize we are saying things that don’t agree with what God says, we need to stop and remember, “In Christ, I’m better than that!” We can choose to put good words that agree with His truth into our hearts, knowing that words carry power.
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit” (Prov. 18:21). This verse gives all new meaning to the phrase “I had to eat my words.” Do you want your words to produce life or death? You get to decide.
Years ago in the margin of my Bible I wrote, “I will use my tongue to speak words of life.” I’ve purposed to live in that truth, even though I’ve sometimes fallen short.
How does this apply? Maybe you’re having a particularly difficult day. You may feel like nothing is going your way. Those are the times when you’re tempted to say, “This is an awful day. Nothing ever goes right for me!” Who did those words just agree with—the enemy or God? Maybe you’re thinking, “Well, that’s how I feel some days, and I’m not going to lie about it.” But there is a greater truth available to you than your feelings—God’s Word. His words are more important and powerful than how you feel. His words can produce life even when you feel at your worst—because He is life. You could say, “God, today’s a challenging day, but I’m not going to let it get me down. The Greater One lives in me! Thank You that You’re working all things together for good because I love You and follow You. Thank You that no weapon formed against me will prosper.” Which words would you rather eat? One set of words is negative and will work against you—they cooperate with the enemy. As one of my friends said this week, “I do not want to be doing the work of the enemy!” The other words will bring you up to a higher level than your emotions; they cooperate with God’s will. Speak words that agree with God, words that will stir your faith and unleash His purpose in your life. Grisham, N., & Mittelberg, M. (2013). Thriving: Trusting god for life to the fullest
The most seemingly insignificant sin—even a slip of the tongue—carries the full potential of all hell’s evil (cf. James 3:6). No infraction against God’s holiness is therefore a trifling thing, and each person will ultimately give account of every such indiscretion. There is no truer indication of a bad tree than the bad fruit of speech. The poisonous snakes were known by their poisonous mouths revealing evil hearts (cf. Luke 6:45). Every person is judged by his words, because they reveal the state of his heart. The MacArthur study Bible
There really is tremendous power in the words we speak, and their power doesn't end when they're spoken. The power of our words can continue through the lifetime of the people who hear them. “From the fruit of his mouth a man’s stomach is filled; with the harvest from his lips he is satisfied. The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” (Proverbs 18:20–21) I also realized that often people other than the one we're speaking to hear our words and can also be affected for a lifetime. That's just another reason to heed God's Word and be very careful of what we speak. More then that, we need to remember that our words come from what's stored in our hearts and therefore do all we can to make sure that it's God's Word that's in our hearts, not the worlds so called wisdom. We have the power to bless, heal, curse, or destroy with our words: “The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked.” (Proverbs 10:11) “The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of judgment.” (Proverbs 10:21) “With his mouth the godless destroys his neighbor, but through knowledge the righteous escape.” (Proverbs 11:9) One last thing to remember is that we will not only be judged by God for every word we speak but we will also reap what we sow here and now: “From the fruit of his lips a man is filled with good things as surely as the work of his hands rewards him.” (Proverbs 12:14) “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.” (Galatians 6:7–8)
!!
