A Word Fitly Spoken
October 11, 2018 by admin
Filed under Life Topics
A pastor's wife shared with me an excellent illustration. She suggested I take a tube of toothpaste, and squeeze out all of the toothpaste. Then, she asked me to try to put the toothpaste back into the tube. No matter how I stuffed and crammed and coerced the paste, it was almost impossible to fill the tube back up. Then she said this is just like our words, they might come out of our mouth effortlessly, but trying to get them back is futile. What an illustration!
Proverbs 25:11 says, “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.” Then I read in the New Testament, Colossians 4:6 “Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man”.
It is constantly a challenge to keep my words in check. I know they can cause more damage than my fists. The childhood saying, “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me” is just not true. Words hurt. Words destroy. But, the right words can encourage and bless. My desire is to know my words are pleasing to God and helpful to mankind.
One way I can ensure my words are fitly spoken is to make sure my heart is right. Matthew 15:18 says, “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart”. Hebrews tells me that the Word of God is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of my heart. So, I must go to the Bible to prepare my heart in order to know that I have no regrets when I speak.
I have not attained victory in this area, but I have seen progress. If my words are like a feather pillow, I want to have the assurance that when that pillow is emptied into the wind, I have no fear as to wear those feathers will float and land. Much better to have that peace of mind, than to imagine me scrambling to pick up the feathers before someone else picks them up. By then, the damage is done.
AUTHOR QUOTE: Want to have words that help rather than words that hurt? Start with the heart!
“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer”, Psalm 19:14 KJV.
Today’s devotion is by Kathy Carlton Willis, wife to Russ, pastor’s wife to many, author, editor, publicist, and speaker. Kathy Carlton Willis Communications encompasses her many passions. Learn more at: http://kcwcomm.blogspot.com/ or http://www.kathycarltonwillis.com/.
