The message today concerns our words.  What we say.  Once they are said we can not pull them back!  They are out there, wherever there is!  With this in mind I want to share with you “Six Wonderful Ways to Use Words” and “Six Wicked Ways of Using Words”.  These are from LIVING WELL, God’s  Wisdom from the Book of Proverbs, by author Allan Moseley.  

Six Wonderful Ways to Use Words:
1. To encourage others:
Cheer them when they are down.
Support them when they are weak
    Proverbs 25:25, “Like cold water to a weary soul,
      So is good news from a distant land.” 
   “Encouraging words are powerful words.”   Pgs. 41-43

2. To teach wisdom:
    “When we develop God’s wisdom, our words will be wise.”
     Proverbs 10:31 “On the lips of him who has understanding, wisdom
                               Is found…”
     Proverbs 15:7  “The lips of the wise spread knowledge;
                              Not so the hearts of fools.”
     Proverbs 18;2  “A fool takes no pleasure in understanding.”   Pg. 43

3. To rebuke wrong behavior:
     Proverbs 28:23 “Whoever rebukes a man will afterward find more favor 
                                than he who flatters with his tongue.”
     Proverbs 25:15 “…A soft tongue will break a bone.”  Pgs 44-45 

4. To restore relationships:
   When we use the right words, it not only helps the relationship, but we 
   feel better too.”
     Proverbs 15:1  “A gentle answer turns away wrath,
                               But a harsh word stirs up anger.”
     Proverbs 15:23 “To make an apt answer is a joy to a man,
                                And a word in season, how good it is.”
     Proverbs 15:28 “The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer…”
     Proverbs 18:13 “If one gives an answer before he hears,
                                it is his folly and shame.”   Pgs 45-46

5. To confess sin;
   Proverbs 28:13 “Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper,
                              But he who confesses and forsakes them will find mercy.”
“Don’t miss the fact that Proverbs 28:13 says that we are to confess our sin AND forsake it.”  (My emphasis)   Pgs 46-47

6. To profess faith:
    Proverbs 9:10 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,
                              And the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.”
“Wisdom begins when we relate properly to God.  How do we do that?  
Romans 10:9 says, 
“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Words have the power to help or to harm. So let us pause and think before we speak.  Scripture gives us so much concerning the use of our tongue and our words.  This is only a snippet to remind us to pause before our word is spoken.

Thank you most gracious God for the ability to speak.  Lead us to speak righteously, using our words for Your purpose and for good.  Amen

“Six Wicked Ways Of Using Words”  to follow in the next Greeting