No Kidding
Proverbs 13:2-3 NKJV
2 A man shall eat well by the fruit of his mouth,
But the soul of the unfaithful feeds on violence.
3 He who guards his mouth preserves his life,
But he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction.
One of the things that I have found helpful is to examine my day. Since November of 2025, every night I have started writing down at least three things I am thankful for and things I could have done better. I am not trying to wallow in condemnation. I am trying to be aware of my actions. Actions are like seeds; they produce a harvest. I want good harvests in my life.
There is a scriptural principle that exists but has been treated as a secondary issue. One of the things we don't pay attention to, and yet the consequences of ignoring this area can be a problem. The area you easily gleaned from our two scriptures is our words. If you think this is a pet topic of mine, you are correct. I join with the apostle Peter, who declared in one of his letters, "For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth." 2 Peter 1:12. Peter was not negligent because the present truth was important. Guarding our words is also important, thus the reminder.
According to our verses for today, using our words the right way will cause us to eat well. So the right words will bless our lives. Guarding our words protects our lives. And the Scriptures are not kidding. This is not simply a good idea. Speaking the right words impacts our lives and those around us. We cannot read the book of Proverbs and come away thinking that our words are of secondary importance. Our words matter. The challenge is that we typically do not see the effect of our words immediately. Like any other seed that is planted, there is a time between planting and harvest. I have no way of gauging the time, so I must simply believe that my words can bring life and blessing, or they can bring death and destruction.
How we speak and use our words is serious. For a quick startup, here are some word tips. Don't speak about what you don't want to see in your life. Don't continually speak about the worst-case scenario. Don't continually talk about what you don't know, don't have, and can't do. I know, I know, I can hear it now - I'm just keeping it real, just being genuine. I am not advocating for denying the facts. What I am advocating is speaking the answer, not the problem. But hey, don't take my word for it - do take God's.
Prayer
Lord help me eat well as I plant good seeds with my mouth. Help me guard my words and preserve my life. I do not want to plant seeds of destruction.