Editor's note: Enjoy today's devotion from Fresh Mercies Every Day by Jennie Lusko.
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The wise in heart will be called prudent,
And sweetness of the lips increases learning.
Understanding is a wellspring of life to him who has it.
But the correction of fools is folly.
The heart of the wise teaches his mouth,
And adds learning to his lips.
Pleasant words are like a honeycomb,
Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones. — Proverbs 16:21-24
Lord, You know that I long to speak with kindness, yet I confess that I’m weak. But You are strong. In the midst of the rush of my daily life today, teach me to offer words spoken with gentleness and love. Help me, Lord. Amen.
When our daughters Alivia and Lenya were four and two years old and Levi and I took an opportunity to travel to California—just the two of us. And before this, I hadn’t been away from our girls... ever.
Levi had been pastoring Fresh Life in Kalispell, Montana, for about three years when we had the chance to spend some time together. The place where we stayed had an ocean view that was stunning. We were able to get away because family and friends back in Montana were taking care of the girls. For the first time since having children, there were no extra little humans running around constantly needing us. We were free to focus on each other. And it was just so luxurious, all of it!
During a few of those leisurely hours away, in my times with the Lord, I started to notice a theme in what He was showing me. One morning, God seemed to be highlighting the verse Proverbs 16:21 to me:
The wise in heart will be called prudent, and sweetness of the lips increases learning.
Later in the day, the Spirit led me to a passage a few verses down:
Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones. — Proverbs 16:24
Okay, God, I hear You. I’m listening!
It almost felt like God had been waiting to get my attention, and now He finally had it. Our lives were so full with ministry and the girls—especially Lenya’s health challenges and her new feeding tube—that it had been hard to get still with God without falling asleep or being pulled in another direction. And yet, there on the beach, it felt like God was reminding me—in that place of beauty and with the rhythm of the waves—to practice kindness when I returned to my regularly scheduled life, to use pleasant words to bring sweetness to my soul and the souls of others. To bring health to my bones and to the bones of those around me.
God was so kind to speak to me through His Word, opening my eyes to what it looks like to be transformed to be more like Jesus.
My prayer that day was simple:
I am weak, but You are strong. On my own, I can tend to be sour and bitter, but help me cling to Your truth, which brings sweetness. I need You, Lord.
Inviting the Lord’s Presence into This Moment
I don’t think it comes naturally to us to pause and listen to the words that leave our lips. But sometimes God intervenes with grace and gives us a heart check. If we’re aware of it and we lean in, deep heart work can happen.
Consider assessing the past few days and thinking about the words you have spoken. Ask God to help you see how He might be wanting to instill an even deeper dependence on His Word in you, thus creating a deeper sweetness that over time will spill out from your mouth.
Let it be, Lord, from Your heart to ours, and to others through our words. Amen.
Watch the Video
Excerpted with permission from Fresh Mercies Every Day by Jennie Lusko, copyright Jennie Lusko.
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Your Turn
No matter how busy today is, slow down for a bit and ask the Lord to instill a hunger for His Word, a dependence on Him, and a fount of sweetness! You’ll be so glad you did. ~ Devotionals Daily