[Wisdom of Solomon] Five Courses on a Table for TwoSample

Words of Praise

What are some things that have made an impression on you? Was it a person you met? Was it a place that took your breath away? Or could it have been the encouraging words someone said when you needed to hear it the most?

The first course of this godly growing relationship meal is "Words of Praise." We know that words can either build us up or tear us down. If we want godly relationships, then we must start with our mouth. To show love to our significant other, we must express our love in a language that can be understood and appreciated. When Solomon spoke of his soon-to-be wife, he used words that showed he knew her. He talked about her in ways that only someone who had spent time, listened, and been patient with her could know. Like Solomon, we too must get to know our significant other. We must pay attention to the details that only one who truly loves someone would know. We listen to get to know their heart, not just the surface level. Then when we speak, we use our words to encourage and build up. In the areas that must be healed, we use other words to protect our loved ones.

Because there are those areas that must be healed, where instead of receiving words of affirmation and love, those closest to you used harmful words that wounded you. Instead of protecting those tender areas, someone might have exploited them for their gain. If this is you, my prayer is that God will help you surrender to Him, so that He can heal you. Sin came and ruined all that was good. The sin within us makes us do and say things we find ourselves regretting later.

Jesus is the perfect example of this meal. He has given us the Bible to encourage and help us know how much He loves us. The beauty of the gospel is that Jesus knows our weakest and most vulnerable areas and never uses them against us. Instead, He shows us the better way, the way to healing, the way to life everlasting. May you never use your mouth to tear down but always to build up.

Thought for today: When you speak today, pray that God will make you aware so that you can use your words to praise, encourage and build up the one on the other side of the conversation.