TeaTime Devotional July 10th, 2025

Written By:      Shevon Patterson

Scripture: Proverbs 12:18 NIV

“The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”

Testify:

 As of July 8th, I will be taking my first plane ride, and I will admit that I genuinely feel scared. However, when I vocalize what I think is fear and anxiety, it tends to intensify my emotions significantly. I'm not referring to a mild case of fear; it's an overwhelming feeling that has been paralyzing me.  I have kept my fears private until recently.   As I attempted to overcome it, the thought of flying sends shivers down my spine, brings me to tears, and I'm unable to explain the underlying reason for my distress.   This brought me to this thought, I am bringing the spirit of fear onto myself by speaking it into existence.

Edify:

Our words hold weight, carrying more meaning than we may realize. They can impact us and others in ways we are not always aware of. The tongue's power is remarkable, both emotionally and physically, as it is the strongest muscle in our body. We need our tongue to speak and the words we put out can either build us up or knock us down.  Hence why the scripture says that reckless, or careless, words pierce like a sword.   We can be using words, like I’ve been, to cause damage not only to others but also to ourselves.   But when we adopt the principle of being wise, we will decide to use our words to heal. 

Apply:

Sometimes we have to girdle our mouths and choose wisely when we speak.  This happens by watching what we say and choosing the path of wisdom instead of the path of the reckless.  Afterall, we all need more of his Holy Spirit and less of the devil’s swords.