Satisfying Words

Words satisfy the soul as food satisfies the stomach; the right words on a person’s lips bring satisfaction. Those who love to talk will experience the consequences, for the tongue can kill or nourish life.

Proverbs 18:20-21

We all know how refreshing it is to hear words of life, hope, and encouragement. They can help our performance and brighten our attitudes. The right word at the right time can bring us renewed vigor for a task and can challenge us to improve. Young or old, people blossom under the influence of encouraging words. Too often, however, we do not hear encouraging words. Worse yet, sometimes we do not speak encouraging words.

Our tongues have the ability to kill or to nourish life. That is a tremendous amount of power and responsibility. The right words bring satisfaction to both the person listening and the person speaking. We have the choice whether or not to encourage —to allow our words to nourish life —or to discourage with our words and crush someone’s spirit. We cannot make that choice for another person, nor can we control what comes from the lips of someone else. Everyone must choose for themselves. But these verses tell us that the God-pleasing choice is obvious: choose the “right words” that can bring satisfaction.

HEAVENLY FATHER, please give me the right words to speak, words that will satisfy the soul of every listener. Let my words encourage and not discourage those who hear me speak. Help my tongue to nourish life and not to kill. And perhaps most important of all, help me to encourage others to be encouragers.

Sing them over again to me, wonderful words of life. PHILIP P. BLISS (1838–1876)

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The One Year Bible Readings for today are 1 Chronicles 5:18–6:81; Acts 26:1-32; Psalm 6:1-10; and Proverbs 18:20-21.