SPIRITUAL VITAMIN DEVOTIONAL

BROKEN BONES

"The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit."
~Proverbs 15:4

Have you ever had a broken bone? I fractured my ankle once. I was walking down the stairs when I lost my footing. I felt the pain instantly but continued to walk on it thinking it would go away. It wasn't until the next day that my ankle was swollen and I could not walk. I had to do months of physical therapy. Actually, the fracture was not as bad as the torn ligaments and tendons which took much longer to heal. Even though my ankle is now healed, I am reminded of the "incident" every time it rains or a cold front comes through, as I feel twinges of pain in my ankle.

Harmful or vicious words are like that. When first spoken, they hurt but we try to ignore them. The next day our heart swells with pain from the wounding. When going through the "storms" of life we are reminded of the painful "incident" or words from the past. Sometimes we even have to seek therapy to help our fractured hearts to heal.

Proverbs 15:4 (KJV) states: A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit. The word "wholesome" means medicine, to cure, mend; deliverance. Wholesome words instantly bring healing and life to our hearts. The word "perverseness" means distortion; viciousness. A "breach in the spirit" means to fracture or ruin. Vicious lies, distorting truth and innuendoes, fracture relationships and cause pain. Someone once said "hurt people, hurt people".

Are you speaking wholesome words, healing words that bring life? It takes months to construct a house or building but only a day to tear it down. It has been said that for every negative word spoken it takes seven positive ones to replace it. Do your words build up or tear down. Do you speak words of life or words that fracture lives?

Prayer:
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me. See if there is any offensive way in me. Forgive me when I have spoken words that are hurtful and mean spirited. Heal my broken and wounded heart that I may speak words of healing and life to those around me. Let me open my mouth to speak words of encouragement and edify others that I may glorify you, for you have the words of eternal life.

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