(Prov 21:23 CEV) Watching what you say can save you a lot of trouble.
This morning we continue our series entitled “Unlocking the Power of Proverbs – Walking in the Wisdom of God.” The Bible is chock-full of instruction concerning the importance of our words. I have taught several series on this topic (see www.todaysword.org) and have addressed it time and time again via this forum, because this topic is all throughout the Bible. I don’t have enough time this morning to share with you what others said about it, so I will just simply share some of what Solomon said, just in Proverbs, about our words. In chapter four Solomon said, “Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips” (v.24). In chapter 10: “The mouths of those who do right are a fountain of life. But the trouble caused by what sinners say destroys them” (v.11). In chapter 12: “The wicked are trapped by their own words, but honest people get themselves out of trouble” (v.13). In chapter 13: “Careful words make for a careful life; careless talk may ruin everything” (v.3). In chapter 18: “Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit—you choose” (v.21). And of course, we have what he said in chapter 21 that we are looking at this morning.
The bottom line is that we can be ensnared by our own words. Just like a bear trap ensnares a huge bear and keeps him entangled and restricted, so it is with our words, especially the words of the wicked. Since the heart of the wicked is not pure, they routinely speak words that do not line up with God’s word. Speaking lies are commonplace for the wicked, but the problem is that the liar inevitably contradicts himself, thus getting himself in trouble with his own lips. Not only that, but the wicked are programmed to speak fear, doubt and unbelief. They see nothing wrong with saying things like, “This doesn’t look good,” “It’s not going to happen for us,” “I’m afraid the whole thing is falling apart,” “I can’t seem to make it through the day,” “I don’t know if I can take another day like this,” “I can’t keep my home in this economy,” “My back is killing me,” and the list can go on and on. Without even knowing it, the wicked entrap themselves with their own words. But what is true in the negative is also true in the positive. If we choose to speak life, faith, victory, grace, and peace, instead of getting us into trouble, our words actually keep us from it.
In “Commanding Your Morning,” Dr. Cindy Trimm said many things about the importance of our words. Here are a couple of quotes from her book: “The power of the spoken word is one of life’s greatest mysteries. All that you will ever be or accomplish hinges on what you choose to come out of your mouth. By what you allow to occupy your mind and mouth you can either bless your life to great heights of success or send it orbiting into realms of failure, sadness, and discontent.” “Consciously choosing your words is like putting together the right combination of brick and mortar. Just as the great architects have taken raw materials to build skyscrapers and timeless monuments, your words are the raw materials that can form the life you are meant to live.”
So what does this mean to you today? It means that your words can either entrap you or keep you from the trap, so choose them wisely. Never speak words of fear, doubt or unbelief. Command your morning with words of prayer and then reinforce your prayer with words of faith all day long. You can’t speak faith in the morning and fear all day and expect to see results. Speak faith, speak life, speak victory, speak God’s best over your life and over the lives of your family daily! Careful (Faith-filled) words put you in the position to receive all that God desires for you to have and become all that God desires for you to be.
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for giving me the ability to think, believe, speak and act. I choose to fill my heart with good things. I read, believe and apply Your Word daily. Your Word fills my heart and out of the abundance of my heart my mouth speaks faith-filled words. I speak life and never death, blessing and never cursing, victory and never defeat! I refuse to ensnare myself with my own words. Conversely, I use my words to keep me from the traps of the enemy, by watching what I say. Like a mason carefully thinks through how he is going to lay bricks, I carefully consider the words that are becoming the building blocks for my life! In Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!
