This passage is all about our words and thoughts isn’t it? What do we think about and how do we say what we do?
Proverbs 16:20-24
Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good,
and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord.
21 The wise of heart is called discerning,
and sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness.
22 Good sense is a fountain of life to him who has it,
but the instruction of fools is folly.
23 The heart of the wise makes his speech judicious
and adds persuasiveness to his lips.
24 Gracious words are like a honeycomb,
sweetness to the soul and health to the body.
Words and Thoughts from Proverbs 16
I had to think today about these first few words “whoever gives thought to the word will discover good“. Like… do I remember that when I look at scripture? Do I seek for the good that God promises I will find? Is reading scripture just another thing to add to my already busy day? Or do I see the good that it brings me? The quiet heart I feel after spending time ruminating on God’s word. That quiet heart is important you know? That time of letting God himself seep into my life. This is the good you know?
And then after that we hear “blessed is he who trust in the Lord”. Sometimes I think, bah.. I got that. I trust God and then something happens and suddenly I realize there is yet ANOTHER area of my life that I have to trust the Lord with. Frustrating sometimes, humbling others.
I guess this is how wisdom is built into my life you know? The learning to discern, the learning to trust God in places I haven’t considered the need for it.
But going back to that quietness of heart after spending time in the word Since God tells us his word never comes back empty right? So that word (that sharper than a two-edged sword word) changes us. Makes us consider things differently and that changes how we talk, how we think, and how we do.
So the more time we spend in his word, the more it influences what happens within us. And so the wisdom that we gain changes our speech. Because when one has wisdom, one is apt to share it yes?
And Proverbs here tells us that being wise is being discerning. The discerning are careful with their speech making us more persuasive and gracious and our speech more judicious.
Sometimes I wonder about that you know?
I wonder if I am becoming more gracious and persuasive with my speech. Seeing it is something I have a hard time with for I’m rather too blunt I think! Perhaps I need to be a bit older??? Or perhaps, I need to be more quiet and let God work in my heart before I open my mouth. That way, God’s graciousness and mercy will be more prevalent in the things I say.
HA… perhaps… just perhaps I’ve learned a bit of wisdom there??? 🙂 (I’m grinning to myself here).
If I can indeed be more quiet and let God work it would also prevent the urge to shoot oneself for words spoken that shouldn’t have been. Would DEFINITELY stop the need to apologize for stupidity. And most assuredly would give God the time to correct me before I speak.
Lest angst in my life would indeed me that “Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.” Just maybe I’d stay healthier too?
Your thoughts?
I love that first and last proverb you noted. Time spent in God’s Word in never wasted but we can certainly learn more when we slow down, focus, and trust Him to work His good in us and through us.