The Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia welcomed me to a ladies’ retreat where I had been the main speaker the year before. The pastor’s wife was a dear friend, and the ladies of her church were quite precious to me as well. Only this year, I was not their special…
The timing of our words, it really is all in motive… “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver” (Proverbs 25:11, KJV). “The right word at the right time is like a custom-made piece of jewelry, And a wise friend’s timely reprimand is like…
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.” Proverbs 25:11
I have always been fascinated by this verse, and can see a picture in my mind of a basket of golden apples set in a silver frame.
I am sure all of us wish that our words always conformed to this picture, but it takes a lot of wisdom to consistently speak words that are pleasing to everyone.
I came up with the following acrostic for Wisdom:
W Words can come so easily
I If we open our mouths wide
S Speaking without thinking
D Destroys our neighbour’s pride.
O Only speak what is good and pleasing to the ear
M Making people happy, spreading hope and cheer.
Prayer: Lord, I desire that my words might always reflect your wisdom, and not offend or hurt anyone else.
Devotion by Anne Johnston
Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in right circumstances. (Proverbs 25:11 New American Standard Bible)
Gentle words comfort, calm, encourage, heal, and inspire. They bring solitude and peace to a troubled friend or a nearby stranger who hears the conversation.
Harsh words carelessly spoken seem to travel at full speed. They may irritate, provoke discord, damage reputations, or destroy confidence of the recipient and all who hear the conversation. Once spoken, inconsiderate words are like weapons, piercing the heart and soul with deep injuries that heal slowly.
Avoid harsh words that paint an unpleasant canvas. Choose soft words to produce apples of gold framed in silver.
Prayer: Dear Lord, I hear so many destructive words in everyday conversations. Offensive words pouring from careless tongues overpower gentle words. Help me concentrate on the positive by showing kindness in my conversations. I want to produce long-remembered pictures of gold so my words will glisten in settings of silver. Amen.
Devotion by Violet Carr Moore
From In the Right Place: A Gallery of Treasured Moments © 2006, Violet Carr Moore