Do Your Words Cut or cure?

Reference: Proverbs 12:18 Some people make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise bring healing.

Observation: Over and over again the book of Proverbs makes the point; our words can wound or our words can heal. This verse makes us ask once more, "are the people around me more healthy or less so because of what comes out of my mouth?"

How can we bring healing? By taking the time to understand what the person needs and then giving it to them. Do they need encouragement? Encourage them. Do they need to be complimented and built up? We should find something we can honestly say that is complimentary. Do they need their hope restored? We can be a beacon of positive truth that ends their hopelessness.

Yet is all comes from this; we must decide that we are on this planet not just for ourselves but for others as well and look for how we can serve them with what we say.

Application/Confession: Just last night I made a remark that hurt my wife. I was not healing; I was hurting in what I said. I communicated distrust and disregard. I need to be more careful to see what is hurtful or helpful from her perspective. It is easy to say, "that wouldn’t hurt me", but that is not the point. It needs to be healing from their perspective not mine.

PRAYER: Lord, you have given me so many wonderful people to love; family, friends and church members. Help me to use my words to more effectively bring healing into their lives.