- The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body. Proverbs 18:8 – This proverb is highlighting our natural desire to want to hear things we shouldn’t listen to. Gossip, rumors, inappropriate talk; all such things fall into the “whispering” category of this verse. The natural instinct for us is to gravitate towards such words as we would a tasty treat. We consume the words, and as the passage continues we see where such words end up…deep within us. They affect us and change us for words have such power. See the importance that we ought to be wise with what words we take in. Compare this to Jeremiah 15:16, “Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts.” The prophet is declaring he too ate some words, but it wasn’t the delicious, yet harmful, morsels of a whisperer, instead the words he took in were the words of the Lord. Consuming such words brought joy and delight to his heart. Know today you have the choice of what words you allow into your life and what words go down deep within you. You can filter our which people you listen to, what podcasts you listen to, what music you listen to, and even the amount of time you spend on social media. You also control how much time you spend in God’s word. Often things in our life seem totally out of our control, this though is something within our control. Choose today which meal you want to be taking in, the words of a whisperer or the words of the Lord? I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 2926
- A man’s spirit will endure sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear? Proverbs 18:14 – When you break down the word depression I see it lining up with our verse well. Depression is being downwardly press. We have an enemy who is pressing down on us with heavy weights keeping our face in the dirt rather than standing in joy and peace. I see that matching up with what our verse said about a crushed spirit. Who can keep going when their spirit is just being crushed and pressed down into the dirt? While I realize depression is a true struggle many people deal with, I also know how big and powerful our God is. Know if you battle depression and you know well this feeling of being crushed as the verse talks about, I’m not going to push aside your battle as something small. It’s real, but you must remember your God is real to and is much bigger than your depression. Maybe that’s why in verse 10, just a few verses before the one we’re looking at today, we see God being labeled a strong tower that the righteous can come to and find safety from their enemy. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 689
- Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits. Proverbs 18:21 – Our tongue is spoken of quite often in scripture. The words that come out can be filled with worship to God and hate towards a brother all within the same breathe. Our passage today reminds us that we’ll partake in the fruit our words grow. If we speak love, then the fruit of peace, life, and togetherness are fruits we’ll partake in. If we speak hate, then the fruit of stress, death, and isolation are fruits we’ll have to eat. The words we speak determine what fruit we eat. Speak life and eat of the good fruit that brings you. What is one area of your life that often words of life aren’t the ones you use? Today seek out how you can begin changing the way you speak there so the fruit you are growing are things you actually want to partake in. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1700
Daily DEVO 