I wonder what you would think if you heard me speak today. Would I make sounds that you'd consider helpful? Gracious? Kind? Wise?
This mouth of mine can get me into all sorts of trouble. Sometimes I gossip...telling people things they do not need to know, things I do not have permission to share. Sometimes I use words meanly...to have a go, dig, put someone in their place. Sometimes my words are dark...I whinge, complain, swear, make fun, criticise. Sometimes I just use too many words....preferring the sound of my own voice rather than taking the time to listen. Sometimes I talk over others, or butt in. Sometimes, it's not the words that do the damage, it's the way I say them. I speak in anger....annoyance....frustration. I yell at the silly driver who failed to indicate. I raise my voice to the wrong people.
How about you? Do you ever find yourself regretting what you just said? Wishing you could take it back? Or do you ever kick yourself for using THAT tone?
It's likely that the woman of excellence we read about in Proverbs 31 had a few 'ooopps' moments with her words, but verse 26 suggests she used her words well...often. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
What a nice idea...to be a woman who speaks with wisdom. What a powerful idea....that my words would be wise, impacting for all the right reasons and in ways that help, not harm. Words that encourage and comfort. Words that communicate hope, joy, love and bring peace. I want that to be the case for my words...and it can be.
The Bible also says that out of the heart, the mouth speaks (Matthew 15:18). So it's logical to assume that if my heart is dirty, upset, cold.....my words will be unclean....unhelpful.
So my new goal? To make it a priority prayer each day to bring my heart to God and ask for Him to clean it. And then, ask for His wisdom to fill it, so that when I speak, wisdom will be heard.
I do like the sound of that.
