Speaking Like Christ

The heart of the righteous weighs its answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil.

—Proverbs 15:28

In the Bible, God states repeatedly that the meek will inherit the earth. A person who is God-fearing, righteous and slow to anger who contemplates His words before speaking will have a much more peaceful life than those who “gush evil.” Today’s verse gives us a lesson on thinking and acting more righteously through our words.

A wise person doesn’t say everything on his or her mind without thinking of the consequences. Instead, the righteous understand the process of cultivating small thoughts. The more power and attention you give to the wicked, the more they grow. Eventually, their negative thoughts will turn into actions, leading to temptation and sin. Those who speak all the negative or evil thoughts in their minds spread wickedness throughout the world.

Have you ever been in a conversation where a person is extremely quick to spout judgment and negativity? Proverbs 15:28 teaches us to listen more and speak less. The more you listen to others, the more you can learn. It’s impossible to learn if you’re doing all the talking. Thinking bad thoughts in itself isn’t necessarily a sin. We all have moments where we fall prey to the negative thoughts within our minds. However, acting on these thoughts is where the line is drawn.

Nobody is perfect. There are everyday frustrations in every person’s mind—it’s what makes us human. However, you can lessen the negative feelings in your heart through prayer. Today, choose to actively reject the evils others may be speaking around you and the evils you may be tempted to speak yourself. When temptation rears it’s ugly head, be ready with a prayer instead. Smile and say something nice—or say nothing at all and turn the other direction.