Proverbs – God’s practical guide to a joyful life
Good day friends! I pray your week and weekend went well.
This week I gathered the proverbs of Solomon surrounding the words of the foolish and the wise. To join us is James. Let’s top up our coffees and see what they have to say.
Devotion 30
Words of the foolish and the wise
The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing (Proverbs 12:18)
A fool’s mouth lashes out with pride, but the lips of the wise protect them. (14:3)
The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly. (15:2)
Proverbs 10:13, 18, 21, 31; 14: 7; 15:7; 16:23; 17:7, 28; 18:6, 7; 19:1; 23:9; 25:23; 29:20
How many times have you stuck your foot in your mouth? How many times have you spoken without thinking and said a foolish thing? If you are like me, you have said such things many a time. Oh how that puts us among the foolish in the above verses. However, by the grace of God, we can seek to be among the wise and strive to discipline ourselves and our tongues. As James tells us, “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.” (James 3:9-10) Yes we can tame the tongue one moment at a time.
In the above verses, if nothing else, I cling to the words in Proverbs 17:28, “Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues,” and I strive to keep silent when I want to speak out. This sounds easy but it is challenging and one that is a constant source of humility when I see how weak I am in restraining my tongue. If it is the same for you, may we, together, pray that our Heavenly Father, guide our hearts and minds so that in him our hearts seek wisdom and our tongues bring healing, mouths are prudent, and lips promote instruction as he so promises in Proverbs 12:18 and 16:23. May it be so!
Prayer: Dear Lord, oh how my tongue can be an untamed evil, as Jame states. Give me the strength and discipline to keep silent when you would have me be silent. Help me to seek you always, so that my words proclaim your wisdom and instruction, love and healing. In Jesus’ name I pray. AMEN!
Thanks for a great post on a topic on which I still need a LOT of work. The Lord is working on me in this area, but sometimes my words are still harsh or unkind when I engage my tongue without engaging my brain first. I’m grateful for His grace over it and pray that those around me will show me grace as well as I learn to be softer and kinder in all my interactions. Blessings to you!
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Thank you ChildOfGrace! I hear you! I think this is a challenge for most. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and struggles! God’s continued blessings to you!
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