“The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing” Proverbs 12:18

Words have such a powerful ability to bless or wound. We need to watch with diligence what we say. The wrong words, especially at the wrong time have the ability to hurt both those who speak and those who hear them.

Stop and think about how marvelously God has created us. The ability to verbalize is granted only to man, who was created in the image of God. We need help in exercising this power responsibly.

Wars have been started over words. Marriage and families have split and fractured relationships because of words. Though the world applauds quick-witted retorts, God tells us to be “quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger.” (James 1:19).

We need to make a conscious effort for our speaking (and listening) to come under the control of the Holy Spirit. When positive speech patterns and habits replace negative speech patterns and habits, we will be amazed with the increase of our joy.

Paul, writing to the Church at Ephesus reminds them, and us to “not let any unwholesome talk come out of our mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” (Ephesians 4:29)

Listen. Wait. Respond.

How many of our conflicts would dissolve or never even materialize if we:

Listen to really understand a person’s concern or complaint,

Wait till our typically wrong initial impulse passed, until we’ve prayed, until we’ve asked clarifying questions,

And then we respond with patience, graciousness, honesty, clarity, and, if possible, brevity?

When used wisely and cautiously, words can often be the best blessings we can give to anyone.

By John Grant
Used by Permission
John Grant is a former Florida State Senator and is a practicing attorney

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FURTHER READING

• The Words of Our Mouth Read more..
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“If words are many, sin is not absent. He who holds his tongue is wise.” Proverbs 10:19

Hurtful words spoken in anger. I caught them, felt the pain of them, and believed them. “I am a failure as a wife, a mother, a Christian.”

And yet in my heart, I knew I had done my best. I knew I had lived well. Then why can’t she remember the good I’ve done? I stewed.

Feeling desperately hurt, I sought counselling.

“They are words of anger spoken into the wind,” my pastor said “Don’t catch them. Don’t let them lodge in your mind to hatch into self-pity. Don’t personalize them. If you do, you’ll become frozen into a stance of hurt. Bitterness will grow in your heart and poison you. Let them go. Don’t even repeat them. They are irrational words spoken in haste.”

“Flying words hurled out of an angry mouth—counter them with a word from God,” says Amy Carmichael.

“But shouldn’t I set the record straight?” I asked.

“Nothing you say at this point will impress her,” the pastor said. “It will only make it worse. A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Proverbs 15:1).

“Let God vindicate you: ‘do not take revenge, for it is written: It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord. ‘Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good”
(Romans 12:19, 20).

Is there someone you need to forgive? Some angry, hurtful words you need to let go? Ask God for the grace to let go and to trust Him to make it right.

From experience I know it’s the only way to live free.

Dear Father, I want my words to be words of healing, not of hurt. I want to remember that ‘kind words are like honey—sweet to the soul and healthy for the body”   (Proverbs 16: 24 NLT)

By Helen Lescheid
Used by Permission

To read more of Helen’s writings go to https://www.helenlescheid.com

FURTHER READING

• Fast Of Words: A Different Kind of Fast
• Lessons from Odd Places: Words that Saved my Life

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“The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” Proverbs 12:18

“The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.” Proverbs 15:4

Early in our marriage, my wife and I agreed on this simple, biblical idea: words count. I can’t recall if we came to it after a disagreement, or by watching couples hurt each other, but it seems Solomon had this figured out a few millennia ago.

Reckless words pierce like swords and perverse ones crush the spirit, he warned, but soothing ones bring life and wise ones heal.

Maybe these verses underscore the obvious, but so often we treat words like computer bytes — weightless and dimensionless, and therefore harmless. Perhaps we have accepted the lie that sticks and stones break bones, but words cannot hurt us.

Leading marriage researcher John Gottman observed that couples most prone to divorce are likely to pepper their talk with criticism, defensiveness, contempt, and stonewalling (giving the silent treatment).

“Can’t you do anything right?” criticizes someone’s behavior and gouges their soul.

“Don’t blame me! I did nothing wrong!” dodges responsibility behind a wall of defensiveness.

“I hate you! How could you be so mean?!” tells the truth with damaging contempt.

“I have nothing to say to you!” may lead to hours — or days — of aching silence.

In the academic study of communication, such phrases are called “speech acts” because they “do” something to our spirits. They are worse than sticks and stones, for they puncture our heart like an enemy’s spear causing us to bleed emotionally and relationally.

Our words count, for they either tear down and wound, or build up and heal. Are you choosing life-giving language?

God, You brought this world together by speaking it into existence, and like You I may create universes of care, love, and encouragement in people around me. Help me choose nourishing, soul-growing things to say to people around me. Amen.

By Dr. Bill Strom

Used by permission
www.thelife.com/dailydevotions

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