A Word Aptly Spoken

“A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of  silver.” Proverbs 25:11

Ahh… isn’t there just so much power in an encouraging word?  I confess I’ve been feeling just a tad beat down lately.  Not in a bad way, just in a pruned way.  God has definitely been at work in the pruning department, pruning me as a wife, as a mom, as a sister in Christ, as a daughter of God.  And I was just starting to feel a little bit like a nub.  Pruning is good, to be sure, and necessary, but you know what else is good sometimes?  A word aptly spoken.

We studied James 5:1-6 this past week in women’s Bible study and just in case you’re really itching for a nice hard kick in the shins go ahead and read it because it’s pretty harsh.  Of course it’s directly largely  toward unbelievers but there’s still plenty of conviction available for us to be sure.

So I was prepared for the challenging words about living luxurious and self-indulgent lifestyles, I was prepared for the challenging words about clothes eaten by moths and gold and silver corroding.  But I wasn’t prepared for the words of life that brought tears to my eyes: “Your simple desire to please God pleases God.”  For some reason that just washed over me like a soothing balm.  Then Chris shared, at length, just about how much God loves us, as His beloved daughters, He loves us.  Again, I was like a dry sponge just soaking up these tender words that I knew were from God.  Many other words were spoken, but what washed over me was an overwhelming sense of God’s love, pleasure, acceptance, delight.  Soothing balm on the pruned nub of my heart!

Then I had a meeting with my mentor.  Again, for whatever reason it’s like I’m always preparing myself for the next big rebuke. Not sure why, but I’m always sure that I’m just about to confronted with someone horrible I’ve done. That’s probably not a good sign, huh?  Anyway, what a blessing her words of wisdom, encouragement, words aptly spoken are like apples of gold in settings of silver.  Beautiful. Delightful.  Timely. Life-giving.

Of course, much of the words I heard today were challenging. There were rebukes to be sure, there were challenges, insights, things I hadn’t seen before.  But there were words aptly spoken to bring soothing balm and life-giving breath to my soul.

Aren’t words great?  Aren’t God’s Words great?  Even when we’re in the middle of  being pruned, challenged, convicted, even rebuked, God’s Word is a life-giving balm that heals, binds up, protects, gives life.  And what an amazing influence we can have when we speak those kinds of words to each other.  Words of wisdom, of humility, of hope, of life.

I am thankful for the women in my life who speak aptly spoken words. I pray that you, today, would also be encouraged by a woman of wise, tender, encouraging words. I pray we would be women of wise, tender, truthful, encouraging words.  I pray we would speak life to each other. I pray you, sister, would be encouraged today and know that God delights in you, that your desire to please God does please God.  Know He accepts you. Know He delights in You. Know He cherishes you and treasures you.  Because He does.

“A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. ” Prov. 25:11