Weekend Words

From Beside the Still Waters...

Speak Life - Read: Proverbs 15

"A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit." - Proverbs 15.4

To speak life is to speak words that promote life.  These are words that encourage, elevate, build, resolve, or repair.  They include phrases such as "Good job!" "Keep it up!" "You can do it!" and many others.  Truly these are like fruit from a tree of life.

Speaking life into a situation is beautiful.  Perhaps you see an argument starting to rise.  With tactful words you can get both parties to lower their hackles and grin, relax, and resolve things.  Perhaps you see a brother or sister drooping in discouragement.  With cheerful words a spirit can be lifted, a day brightened, and clouds removed.  Or maybe you hear words of complaint or anxiety.  With God's help you can counter all these negative expressions with positive, hopeful words that speak life.

Solomon wrote in Proverb 15:23, "A word spoken in due season, how good it is!"  In Proverbs 25:11 he said, "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver."  Other translations may use the phrase "apples of gold in silver bowls," which makes a lovely picture indeed.  One man said, "I can live for two months on a good compliment."  I hope we dole out compliments much more often than once in two months.

There are many opportunities to speak life - commenting on a lovely morning, thanking an employee for his help, or noting the humour in a difficult situation.  A remark like "I love to see the sun!" can lift spirits subtly and requires no response, but it speaks life.  The huge crowds that followed Jesus indicate the tremendous drawing power of His "gracious words."  Thank God we can read many of His words of life.

John Ropp - Dannebrog, NE

A joyful spirit is a fountain of health for those who have it and those who drink from it.

From The Bible Promise Book devotional...

An Attitude of Gratitude

"I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors, for you have given me wisdom and strength.  You have told me what we asked of you and revealed to us what the king demanded." - Daniel 2:23 NLT

Prayer so often begins with gratitude, and gratitude often begins with awareness.  How many things will God do for you today?  Some of them are lasting and ongoing, like salvation and sanctification.

Others are more in the moment, like that "daily bread" that helped you pay a bill or meet a need, or those small but crucial encounters that God has in store for you on any given day - a chance meeting at the grocery store or in the hallway at work where God wants you to be available to listen, to speak an inspired word, to share a laugh, or to commiserate a loss.  Just to be a part of what God is doing beyond your life, using you to help to touch others' hearts, is humbling and fulfilling.

Set your day on a path of gratitude.  Paul wrote, "Devote yourself to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving" (Colossians 4:2 NASB).  Take a moment to appreciate God's provision in your life, and then ask Him to prepare you for a day of divine appointments.