The
Hearts Of The Wise Make Their Mouths Prudent
Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is the one who trusts
in the Lord. The wise in heart are called discerning,
and gracious words promote instruction. Prudence is a fountain of life to the
prudent, but folly brings punishment to fools. The hearts
of the wise make their mouths prudent, and their lips promote
instruction. Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and
healing to the bones.
Proverbs 16:20-24
A recent study has shown that encouraging words from a
health-care provider can help patients recuperate faster from their ailments. A
simple experiment exposed volunteer study participants
to a skin allergen to make them itch and then compared the reactions between
those who received assurance from their physician and those who didn’t.
Patients who received encouragement from their doctors had less discomfort and
itching than their counterparts.
The writer of Proverbs knew how important encouraging
words are. “Gracious words” bring “healing to the bones,” he wrote (Proverbs 16:24). The
positive effect of words isn’t limited to our health: when we heed the wisdom
of instruction, we’re also more likely to prosper in our efforts (v. 20). So
too encouragement buoys us for the challenges we face now and may encounter in
the future.
We may not yet fully understand why or even how much
wisdom and encouragement bring strength and healing to our daily lives. Yet the
cheers and guidance of our parents, coaches, and colleagues seem to help us
endure difficulty and steer us toward success. Similarly, the Bible brings us
encouragement when we face trials, equipping us to bear up under even the most
unthinkable circumstances. Help us, God, to be strengthened by Your wisdom and
to, in turn, offer the healing and hope of “gracious words” to those You’ve
placed in our lives.
Who has spoken “gracious
words” into your life? Why is it vital for you to share words of
encouragement with others?
Dear Father, thank You for Your words of
healing and hope.
Our Daily Bread – April 14, 2020