MONDAY - September 28

Each day say our two theme verses. To help you do this, download our smartphone and tablet wallpaper: https://www.decaturumc.com/sermons/the-power-of-words.  

Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear. Ephesians 4:29

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. (Psalm 19:14)

Read. Proverbs 15:1-4
A soft answer turns away wrath,
    but a harsh word stirs up anger.
2 The tongue of the wise dispenses knowledge,
    but the mouths of fools pour out folly.
3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place,
    keeping watch on the evil and the good.
4 A gentle tongue is a tree of life,
    but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
Reflect. Many of the Proverbs have a bit of a scattershot quality to them. But in these four verses, the Hebrew sages put together four wise sayings that address the quality of human speech, both in its ability to wound and damage, but also to heal and give life. (Apart from Proverbs, the image of “the tree of life” only occurs in the Hebrew creation story in Genesis 2 and 3, and in John the seer’s visions of God’s new earth in Revelation 2 and 22.) 

• The Common English Bible translates the Hebrew word in Proverbs 15:1 as “sensitive,” and
  other translations use “soft” or “gentle.” For some, such words give an impression of weakness. But a later proverb said, “A commander can be persuaded with patience, and a tender tongue can break a bone” (Proverbs 25:15). When have you seen wisely chosen words break down barriers that harsh speech would only have made higher and more rigid? 
• Professor Paul Koptak wrote, “These proverbs do more than simply urge us to watch what we say and how; they also inspire us to examine the intentions of our hearts.” Have you ever found, when you were (maybe reluctantly) honest with yourself, that the inner sources of your “righteous indignation” were not as “righteous” as you at first thought they were? Does responding to anger with more anger usually make things better or worse? 

Pray. Heavenly Father, help my mouth not to “gush” with foolish words. Grow in me your spirit that can make my speech more and more a “tree of life” for the people I meet. Amen.

COMMUNITY PRAYER LIST

Doug Lawson. Bobby Roberts. Collier. Glenn Ethridge. Adam Funderburk.  Mary Reber.  Linda Harmon. Betty Carolyn Ward. Jeff. Albert Rasanke. Lois Robinson. Ross Henley. Tiny & Donald Creasman. Bill and Barbara Buchanan. Bonnie Brenner. Baker Family. Robert McKenzie Family. Kibler family. Carolyn Harlow. Jeff Green. Earl Graves. Mickey Huff. Huff & Welch families. Helen Leigh. Paul Huffman. Schools, Teachers, Staff, Parents, Students. Church regathering plans. Layman family. Charlene Withrow. Brandon Casteel. Dirk Orr family. Smith family. Crowder family. Lillard family. Family of Floyd Eaton. Family of Eddie Rynes. Robertson Family. Harmon Family.

Acknowledgement:
Our current teaching series, The Power of Words, was adapted from a series developed by our partners at The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection and used with permission. Many of the resources and graphics are provided by our partners. During this series, our Read.Reflect.Pray guide publishes the daily devotional guide (called Grow, Pray, Study) from our partners with minor adaptation. ​