‘He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.’ Proverbs 13:3

‘Be careful what you say and protect your life. A careless talker destroys himself.’ Proverbs 13:3 (GNT)

‘Careful words make for a careful life; careless talk may ruin everything.’ Proverbs 13:3 (MSG)

So, be careful of what you say, do not let your emotions run your mouth. Let your discretion and sound judgement prevail. It is really not compulsory that you say something during a conversation all the time; keep quiet if you are not sure your words will make a concrete and positive contribution. Some people have ended their life in troubles of all kinds through careless unsolicited talks. Remember this analogy, spoken words are like eggs dropped on the floor; once they have been dropped it is difficult to put back together. If the egg is dropped on the floor carelessly, it shatters and goes to waste. However, an egg carefully cracked for food is usually delicious. Your words are precious, treat them as such.

Proverbs 15:1 says: ‘a soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.’ If you are going to respond to confrontation, respond with softness, it takes a lot of effort to do, but it is worth it in order to find a peaceful solution. May God give you discretion, go in peace and return in rejoicing in Jesus’ name. Amen.

‘A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth: and the recompence of a man’s hands shall be rendered unto him.’ Proverbs 12:14

‘Your reward depends on what you say and what you do; you will get what you deserve.’

Proverbs 12:14 (GNT)

‘Well-spoken words bring satisfaction; well-done work has its own reward.’

Proverbs 12:14 (MSG)

In the way you receive reward for your labour, so shall you also receive reward for what you say. Every statement you make is a seed and the fruit shall be your reward. What will your reward be? Will the seed of the word from your mouth be a good well-spoken seed?

The words you speak into your personal life or the life of your children are seeds. They germinate to bring result that you and everyone will see in the nearest future. Speak life, and that is what will manifest in time; if you always speak the words of death, do not be surprised with the result that show up. Let the words on your lips be seasoned with grace such that they will edify the hearers.

As you go through today sow only good seeds from your mouth, and you will reap only good rewards, always. May God keep you, and may you return home rejoicing today in Jesus’ name. Amen.

In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.’ Proverbs 10:19

The more you talk the more likely you are to enter into errors or commit sin. Determine to refrain from talking too much. The Good News translation says ‘the more you talk, the more likely you are to sin. If you are wise, you will keep quiet.’

As you go through your day you will have cause to talk; something may aggravate you and you want to express your feelings. Be sure not to speak too much or speak in anger because in doing so you might end up in sin. Discipline yourself, make the effort to refrain from speaking too much.

The Message expresses the verse as ‘the more talk, the less truth; the wise measure their words.’ Think before you speak; be careful with what you say. If you do this you will find that you are reckoned to be wise among your contemporaries. Do not allow your emotions to affect how you speak. May God give you discretion today in Jesus’ name. Amen.

¹³ In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found: but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding. ¹⁴ Wise men lay-up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.

Proverbs 10:13-14

The American Standard Version says: ‘In the lips of him that hath discernment wisdom is found…’ We may wish to speak wisdom, but we will only find wisdom from discernment. The Good News translation of verse 14 says: ‘The wise get all the knowledge they can, but when fools speak, trouble is not far off.’ This verse gives the reason the wise is able to speak wisdom; they take time to get discernment or understanding by first laying up knowledge. In your field of endeavour, if you want your contributions to be weighty, take time to acquire and store up relevant knowledge. So that when you speak, leaders will not have a choice but to give you audience.

On the other hand, not only will your shallow uncoordinated words make you irrelevant in the scheme of things, it can even land you into undesired troubles. So, work hard on building up relevant knowledge, then you will develop discernment and in turn be able to speak with wisdom and as a subject matter expert. Amplified version of verse 14 says: ‘...wise men store up knowledge in mind and heart’. May you be filled with knowledge so that discernment may be available to you, and you will speak with wisdom, both in church and in the marketplace. God bless your day in Jesus’ name. Amen.

‘The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.’ Proverbs 10:11

‘The mouth of a good person is a deep, life-giving well, but the mouth of the wicked is a dark cave of abuse.’ Proverbs 10:11 (MSG)

Which of these categories do you fall into? Is your mouth like that of a righteous person or is your mouth like that of the wicked? ‘The mouth of a good person is a deep, life-giving well, but the mouth of the wicked is a dark cave of abuse.’ Does your words give life to those that hear them or does your mouth rain abuse? As you go through today, will the people you meet receive the blessings of peace, hope, and joy or will they be met by abuse?

Also, when you give remarks or comments about the performance of your colleagues or even those under your supervision at work, would they be encouraged to do better, or are they likely to be so discouraged that they give up trying? It is virtue to be able to make comments that will edify the weak, while you challenge them to improve. When you comment about your kids or spouse at home, would they be encouraged or otherwise? The bible says about Jesus ‘a bruised reed shall he not break’ (Matthew 12:20). May God make your mouth that of the righteous; may God bless and keep you as you face your day in Jesus’ name. Amen.

^1-2 With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, that fateful dilemma is resolved. Those who enter into Christ’s being-here-for-us, no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud. A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death. Romans 8:1-2 (MSG)

 Condemnation weighs down on people’s hearts and minds, but the message today is saying that because of Christ this should come to an end. There is no condemnation for those who live in union with Christ. The devil is not happy with you being born again so he tries to bring back thoughts and memories of how you used to be, just to make you feel condemned. Do not allow it! Fight back with the Word and say “There is no condemnation for me because I am in Christ.” The blood of Jesus has already wiped away your past records and you are new person in the Lord. Read verse 2 above again now…

The law of sin and death brings sickness, weakness, and condemnation but the law of the spirit of life in Christ brings hope, healing, and deliverance. Declare to yourself “I live in a new law, the law of the spirit of life in Christ.” Face today with that in mind, and let your heart be established in this truth as you live your life going forward. May the Lord bless you in Jesus’ name. Amen.

‘Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree’ Galatians 3:13

Today’s message again is a message of hope. By hanging on a tree for us, Christ has redeemed you and me from the curse of the law. Christ bought us back. The Message version says ‘Christ redeemed us from that self-defeating, cursed life, by absorbing it completely into himself…’ He never intended for us to partake of any part of the curse that sin brought, He absorbed everything to himself!

Verse 14 goes on to say ‘That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ…’ Blessing – the ability to be favoured. We have on us the blessing of Abraham. In short, Christ redeemed us from the curse so that we may have The Blessing. Today go by faith with the understanding that Christ has redeemed you from the curse that the law brought. You and I are now free to enjoy the fullness of The Blessing as God intended it to be in the first place. Praise God!

‘Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son’. Colossians 1:13

‘He rescued us from the power of darkness and brought us safe into the kingdom of his dear Son’ Colossians 1:13 (GNT)

The bible says: ‘The entrance of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple’ (Psalm 119:130). When you get proper understanding of the word of God, they will change you, deliver you, and set you free.

The key words today are delivered and translated. Note the following:

1. You have been delivered from the power of darkness.
2. You have been translated into the kingdom of his dear Son.

As you face your day remember Jesus has not only rescued you from the power of darkness, he has also brought you, safe, into the kingdom of his dear son. Which means though you live physically in this world, the domain and sphere of your operation is in the kingdom of his dear son; where there is peace, righteousness, and joy in the Holy Spirit. The Lord has set you free from condemnation and the power of darkness. However, you and I need to consciously develop a mind-set and belief system that fits such position. You transact all your business from that stand point. Praise God!

‘Giving thanks unto the Farther, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light’ Colossians 1:12

‘Giving thanks unto the Father, who made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light’ Colossians 1:12 (ASV)

‘… Thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that he has for us.’ Colossians 1:12 (MSG)

You are now qualified to partake in the inheritance of the saints. Part of what Jesus received for the saints is: forgiveness for our sins, healings for our sicknesses, deliverance from oppression, and abundance of wealth for our poverty. Galatians 3:13 says: ‘Christ has redeemed me from the curse of the law’. These are part of the things that He settled on the cross of Calvary. It is your responsibility to meditate on this truth in order to partake in its fullness.

The good news is that as a believer, all these are part of your inheritance: healing, forgiveness, abundance, progress, deliverance; so, you must ensure you partake of these blessings. For you to enjoy these benefits, you need to stand on the word of God. Let the truth of the Word mix with your faith and as you declare them over your life and situations, light shines on you and your life responds accordingly. So, what are you waiting for? Take a few more minutes to meditate on these scripture further, then start declaring them.

‘In whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins’ Colossians 1:14

The devil is described as the accuser of the brethren (Revelations 12:10), daily accusing us before God and also bringing condemnation in our heats. The devil’s aim is that we won’t be able to approach God with boldness to receive all He has for us. As believers, we must not allow this. We must remember this truth of God’s word – you have redemption through the blood of Jesus Christ; and you have received forgiveness for your sins. Do not allow the enemy to put you under any kind of condemnation. The power of the blood that was shed on the cross of Calvary is unquestionable and its efficacy is unfathomable.

The message version of this scripture says: ‘…the Son who got us out of the pit we were in, got rid of the sins we were doomed to keep repeating’. He has redeemed you through His blood; He has bought you back from the power of sin, and has given you forgiveness from the effect of the sins that you committed. Establish this truth in your heart – Jesus Christ did not go to the cross just for fun, He went to die for you and me!

Good News version says: ‘by whom we are set free, that is, Our Sins are forgiven’, praise God! If you have any besetting sin or sense of guilt in your life, stand on this scripture and establish your victory in Jesus name. Face your day and overcome in every temptation, in Jesus’ name. Amen.