The Right Words

April 11

Deuteronomy 19-20

Psalm 44:9-16

Proverbs 10:31-32

Luke 9:18-36

The Right Words

“The mouth of the righteous produces wisdom, but a perverse tongue will be cut out. The lips of the righteous know what is appropriate, but the mouth of the wicked, only what is perverse.” Proverbs 10:31-32 HCSB

I cannot tell you how many times I have prayed for the right words to say in a situation and God gave me exactly the right thing to say. I have found myself quoting scripture or giving advice that I knew was not coming from me. There have been many times that something I read that morning in my quiet time, or something I heard in a sermon have come to my mind and I am able to give sound biblical advice to someone who is struggling with what they should do. There have also been times when I wanted to say something, and the Holy Spirit has shut my mouth. I don’t always know why. Sometimes it is because I am not the right one to deliver the message. The person may need to hear what I am saying, but not from me. Or it may be that it is not the right time or that my heart is not right so I would not speak the truth in love. Unfortunately, I can also recount many times when I have not prayed before speaking and have said things I later regretted. “The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom…the lips of the righteous know what is appropriate.” Wisdom comes from the Holy Spirit living within us. Knowing what to say, when to say it and how to say it is not something we just learn. It isn’t a skill we can practice and get better at. There is no book that can teach you how to speak wisely. “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” James 1:5 (NIV) God is the only source of true wisdom. Spending time meditating on God’s Word, in Bible study and prayer will help you grow closer to the source of wisdom and knowledge. “For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” Luke 6:45b (NIV)