How can we apply "fruit of his lips" in daily conversations? Tasting the Verse “From the fruit of his lips a man enjoys good things, but the desire of the faithless is violence.” (Proverbs 13:2) Meaning of “Fruit” in Scripture • “Fruit” pictures a harvest that naturally grows out of what is planted • Words are seeds; conversations are the soil; the harvest is either blessing or harm • God presents words as tangible produce we “eat” later (Proverbs 18:20–21) Why Words Carry Harvest • The Creator spoke the world into existence (Genesis 1) and made humanity in His image • Speech reflects the heart’s abundance (Luke 6:45) • Scripture treats words as deeds that carry moral weight (Matthew 12:36–37) Five Daily Habits for Good Fruit 1. Morning dedication – Before speaking to people, speak Scripture aloud to the Lord (Hebrews 13:15) – Ask Him to season every word with grace (Colossians 4:6) 2. Three-second pause – Breathe, filter, then release words that fit Ephesians 4:29 – Silences that prevent sin are victories 3. Intentional encouragement – Affirm God’s work you see in others (1 Thessalonians 5:11) – Replace vague praise with specific, truthful statements 4. Scripture-saturated vocabulary – Memorize bite-sized verses to weave into ordinary talk (Psalm 119:11) – Let God’s Word become your instinctive response 5. Evening inventory – Review the day, noting conversations that produced peace or pain – Confess failures, celebrate growth (1 John 1:9) Conversation Starters That Give Life • “Here’s a promise that helped me today…” • “I appreciate the diligence you showed in…” • “Let’s thank God together for…” • “Can I share something uplifting I read in Proverbs?” • “I see the Lord strengthening you in…” Guardrails Against Rotten Fruit • No complaining or coarse joking (Philippians 2:14; Ephesians 5:4) • Refuse gossip on first hearing (Proverbs 20:19) • Stop anger at the mouth’s door (James 1:19–20) • When wrong words slip, own them quickly and make restitution (Proverbs 28:13) Encouraging Scriptures to Remember • Proverbs 18:21 “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” • Isaiah 50:4 “The Lord GOD has given Me a tongue for instruction, to know how to sustain the weary with a word.” • James 3:17 “The wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit…” Putting It All Together Speaking becomes an act of sowing. Plant truth and grace with every sentence, and, as Proverbs 13:2 promises, you will “enjoy good things” harvested from the fruit of your lips. |
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