Saturday 14 January 2012

Read Proverbs 18:1-8

 

A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of the soul. Proverbs 18:7

 

We would all cringe at the thought of having a mouth full of gravel.  But a stone in the mouth can actually be desirable— at least that seems to be true for the cranes that inhabit the Taurus mountains of southern Turkey.

 

The cranes tend to cackle a lot, especially while flying.  All that noise gets attention of eagles, who swoop down and seize them for a meal.  The experienced cranes avoid this threat by picking up stones large enough to fill their mouth.  This prevents them from cackling, and from becoming lunch for the eagles.

 

People have a problem with their mouths too.  The writer of Proverbs said, “He who guards his mouth preserves his life, but he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction” (13:3).  “A fool’s lips enter into contention, and his mouth calls for blows” (18:6).  How many of our troubles could be prevented if we would learn to control our tongues!  How much of the heartache we cause others could be avoided if we would guard our speech!

 

Are you having a problem with your tongue?  Try this: Ask the Lord for His help.  Think before speaking.  Let your words be few.  Following that formula can be as effective as a stone in the mouth. –Richard De Haan

Lord, help me watch the words I say

And keep them few and sweet,

For I don’t know from day to day

Which ones I’ll have to eat. –Anon

 

Mind what you say, or you might say whatever comes to mind.

 

Prayer:

 

¨ Pray for the men of God who will be preaching in churches tomorrow.

 

¨ Ask God to provide His wisdom and His understanding and that His message will reach into  the lives of people who need Him.