Dave's Diary

Prayer

Lord of all grace and goodness, please reveal Yourself to me in Your Word today Amen.

Reading

Read Proverbs 16 slowly and prayerfully. Notice which verse particularly jumps out at you. Re-read that verse a few times, slowly. Write it down in your journal. Try to memorise it so that you can reflect on it without having to read from the page.

Prayerful Reflection

Now take that Proverb and think about your life at the moment. Is there a situation in your life to which that Proverb applies. Ask the Lord how this verse from His Word is telling you to live out His wisdom in that situation. Make notes in your journal.

A Devotional Thought

Proverbs 16: 
²⁴ Gracious words are a honeycomb,
    sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. (NIVUK)

²⁴ Kind words are like honey—sweet to the taste and good for your health. (GNT)

Words are profoundly powerful instruments. The thoughts, ideas and even emotions of others are carried to us on the wings of their words.

Sadly, we all know by painful experience that words can carry terribly destructive power. Yet, Proverbs 16:24 reminds me of the wonderfully life-giving power of words too. By words we receive so many blessings from others. Through words we are blessed with encouragement, hope, strength, companionship, comfort, acceptance, forgiveness, care, love, and so much more.

To say that words are “gracious” or “kind”, implies that they have been carefully chosen with the aim of speaking into the other person’s life exactly what we believe we would most need to hear if we were in their shoes. To put it another way, “kind” or “gracious” words are what come out of our mouths when we determine to “Speak unto others as you would have them speak unto you” (to adapt Jesus’ words in Matthew 7:12 just a tiny bit).

Let’s choose to speak life, healing and blessing into the life of everyone we meet today. Let’s make it our mission to string together a series of words that will change someone’s day radically for the better.

Prayer

Almighty God, thank You for the gift and power of words well spoken. May my mouth be an instrument of Your healing and strength to others today. Amen.