A Wholesome Tongue

This morning, the boys and I played hooky from church...

Well, not exactly.

We are sort of under quarantine until this whooping contagious period passes. So, I spent some time on my anger study in God's Word. I have been looking up various scriptures on the issue of anger and the tongue and writing them on index cards. These scriptures are certainly impacting me!

I want to share one with you this morning that has particularly touched me:

A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.
Proverbs 12:4

In my Bible, I looked up the Hebrew translation of a few of these words:

wholesome - curative, medicine, healing
perverseness - distortion, viciousness
breach - fracture, broken, affliction, bruise

As I meditated on these definitions, I became powerfully aware of the damage our tongues can do not only to others, but to ourselves as well. When we speak with a "perverse" or vicious tongue then a breach or a break begins to form in our spirits. Our spirits are afflicted and broken from the inside. That would lead me to conclude that the Holy Spirit within us is also grieved. Therefore, we cannot be following or walking after the Spirit when we speak with a perverse, angry, or distorted tongue.

On the other hand, a "wholesome" tongue brings life and healing. It is a tongue which promotes life, blessing and peace. This kind of tongue repairs the breach in our spirit and brings healing and life to the one who is speaking as well.

I love this scripture, and I love God who would teach me such wisdom from His holy word. As we meditate and take time to truly study His Word and seek His righteousness contained therein, all the things we need shall be added unto us. Yet, it saddens me the damage I most assuredly have already done through my ignorance and rebellion. I am thankful for the sin-covering grace of the Lord and for His mercy and love.

I pray that as I walk with God, my tongue brings healing and life to others and to myself, not perversity, viciousness, angry spiteful words or foolish talk. I pray the same for you, my friends. Blessings!