How Proverbs Can Help You Watch What You Say

Posted on Mar 02, 2017 Topic : Women's Christian Living
Posted by : Elizabeth George

In the book of Proverbs, God shows His people how to live and walk and talk with wisdom. As you approach your day, put this guidance to work in your speech and interactions with those who will cross your path:

1. Think before you speak—On the lips of the discerning, wisdom is found, but a rod is for the back of him who lacks understanding (Proverbs 10:13).

Make it your goal to carefully select words and wording that measure up to God’s standards of wisdom and kindness.

2. Wait before you speak—Wise men store up knowledge, but with the mouth of the foolish, ruin is at hand (Proverbs 10:14).

You may have heard the saying, “It’s better to be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and prove it.” Unfortunately, this is all too true! Waiting, rather than blurting something out, will allow you to hear all the facts, weigh the facts, consider who you are talking to, and most important, allow you to calm down—and offer a quick prayer before you speak!

3. Err on the side of less when you speak—When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise (Proverbs 10:19).

I’m sure you’ve experienced the sinking feeling you get when you keep talking and explaining and filling every space of silence with nervous talk. It’s almost like the more you say and the longer your jabbering continues, the deeper the hole you dig. This problem is easily solved: Think to yourself, Less is best!

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My prayer for you and myself is that we bless others with our speech. May we be like God’s excellent woman who “opens her mouth in wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue” (Proverbs 31:26). Like her, may our hearts be righteous. And may the words of our mouths that spring forth from our hearts improve, better, and bless the lives of those who hear.