Proverbs 15:26

Your mouth is the vent of your heart. You choose and form your words in your heart. Are your thoughts and speech an abomination to the LORD Jehovah? Or are your words the gracious and pleasant words that rejoice God and men? What a difference among men!

Every time you speak, you reveal to God and man what is in your heart. Every time you speak, God and men appreciate and delight in your words, or they abominate and despise them. Speech is one of the best indicators of a person’s character. Consider this well.

Your thoughts are not your own. You are bound by duty to your Creator to think on Him with all your heart (Deut 6:4-7). But the wicked never think of Him (Ps 10:4; Rom 1:20-28). Their throat is an open grave, revealing decay and death in their hearts (Rom 3:13).

Even when you lie, your lying words do not lie – they tell the truth about you and your heart. You are a liar! Your heart, whether black with wickedness or white with righteousness, is clearly revealed to God and men by your words. Fools say, “You cannot know my heart.” They lie to themselves and then believe it! Everyone, including God, knows their hearts by their words (Matt 12:33-37; Jas 3:5-16). What color is your heart?

Solomon warned that God sees everything done in the earth (Pr 15:3). But David taught earlier that God hears and analyzes every thought, even before they are expressed in words (Ps 139:1-6). The great and dreadful God knows the thoughts and intents of your heart (Heb 4:12), and you will give an account for every idle word (Matt 12:34-37). He counts foolish thoughts as sin (Pr 24:9). Guard your thoughts and words starting today.

Either God is angry with you for what you think and say, or He is pleased with you for both. Which is it? If He is angry, you are hopelessly going down to destruction (Pr 10:7; Ps 34:16). If God is against you, there is no help in heaven or earth for you. If God is for you, no power can hold back His blessings. Your heart and lips are not your own; you will receive good or evil for your speech (Pr 18:21; Ps 12:1-5). You have been warned.

The thoughts and words of wicked men are arrogant, blasphemous, cruel, filthy, foolish, haughty, ignorant, slanderous, vain, and vicious. They speak harshly, impulsively, irreverently, loudly, sarcastically, and selfishly. They babble about abortion, adultery, evolution, gossip, labor unions, movies, self-esteem, same-sex marriages, sports, and other vanities. The God of heaven despises them, their thoughts, and their words.

The thoughts and words of pure men are cheerful, gracious, helpful, kind, knowledgeable, merciful, peaceful, virtuous, and wise (Pr 10:20-21; 15:2,4; 16:23-24; Eccl 10:12). They speak carefully and slowly. Their words are formed in a pure heart, for it is a pure heart that generates gracious words, and even kings desire to be around such men (Pr 22:11). Their words are pleasant to both God and men (Pr 15:23; 24:26; 25:11).

How do you affect others by your speech? If you start with humble, kind, and wise thoughts in your heart, you will comfort, encourage, and help those around you. Some men cut others by their sword-like words; others have a tongue that is a tree of life (Pr 12:18; 15:4). You can be sweet and healthful to others, if you choose pleasant words (Pr 16:24). How can you do this? Only think pleasant thoughts about others in your heart!

No man ever spoke like Jesus Christ. Guards sent by His enemies could not arrest Him, for they were overwhelmed by His virtuous speech (John 7:45-46). His first sermon in his hometown was overwhelmingly gracious, causing skeptics and scorners to pause in their tracks (Luke 4:14-22). And after His resurrection, He interpreted the scriptures in a way that caused the hearts of two disciples to burn with pleasure (Luke 24:13-32).

How can you learn to speak like Him? Stop your present habits of thinking and talking, and repent for any foolish speech (Pr 30:32; Job 40:4; Is 6:5). Think only about noble and virtuous things (Pr 4:23; Mal 3:16; Phil 4:8; Col 3:2). Slow down (Pr 15:28; 29:20; Jas 1:19). Cut your words in half (Pr 17:27-28; Eccl 10:19). If you cannot say anything good about God or men, then stop talking altogether (Eph 4:29; Col 4:6). Help, Lord.