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Gems of Knowledge » 🌐 2026-07-27
@gemsofknowledge.com@gemsofknowledge.com

Look Before You Leap

Over the weekend, my two-year-old granddaughter saw the pool, got excited, and jumped right in—no floaties, no hesitation. She was immediately in trouble, and I had to grab her. And I thought… how often do we do the same thing in life? Sometimes wisdom looks a lot like restraint. That's why today's Gem of Knowledge warns: “If you want to stay away from danger, then you must not jump in to every situation or conversation carelessly. Always use caution. Look, watch, listen, pray, discern, or you may drown.” We jump into conversations, conflicts, relationships, and decisions without knowing how deep the water is. Look. Watch. Listen. Pray. Discern. Before you jump in, check with the One who can see what you can't. 💎 ✨Click to read the full devotional [SENSITIVE CONTENT]

Today’s One Year Bible Verses: 2 Chronicles 19:1–20:37 • Romans 10:14–11:12 • Psalm 21:1–13 • Proverbs 20:4–6

Look, Watch, Listen, Pray, Discern

Over the weekend, we went to a pool party, and we had barely gotten there when my two-year-old granddaughter saw the pool and was excited to get in. Before we knew it, she just jumped right into the water—no floaties, no hesitation, nothing! She was immediately in trouble. I had to hurry in and grab her because she couldn’t swim, and if I hadn’t been right there, she could have drowned.

As scary as that moment was, it made me think about how easily we can do the same thing in life. We see something, get excited, upset, curious, or caught up in the moment, and jump in without stopping to consider what we’re getting ourselves into.

It might be a conversation, someone else’s conflict, a relationship, an opportunity, or a decision that looks perfectly fine from where we’re standing. But just because the water looks inviting doesn’t mean we’re prepared for what’s beneath the surface.

Sometimes wisdom looks a lot like restraint. That’s why today’s Gem of Knowledge warns:

“If you want to stay away from danger, then you must not jump in to every situation or conversation carelessly. Always use caution. Look, watch, listen, pray, discern, or you may drown.”

My granddaughter saw a pool and thought, I want in! She didn’t think about the depth of the water, whether she had her floaties on, or whether she could handle what she was jumping into. Of course, she’s two! But spiritually, I wonder how often we do exactly the same thing.

I love the progression in that warning: look, watch, listen, pray, discern. There is no hurry in any of it. It is the opposite of reacting impulsively. God is teaching us to slow down long enough to understand what we’re stepping into before we step into it.

Jehoshaphat learned this lesson the hard way. In yesterday’s reading, he joined King Ahab in a battle that God had not called him to fight. He nearly lost his life because of it. In today’s reading, when Jehoshaphat returned home, the prophet Jehu confronted him: “Why should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD?” (2 Chronicles 19:2 NLT)

Jehoshaphat had jumped into someone else’s battle, and it almost became his grave.

But later, when Jehoshaphat faced a battle that truly was his, we see him respond very differently. A massive army was advancing against Judah, and instead of rushing into action, “Jehoshaphat was terrified by this news and begged the LORD for guidance.” (2 Chronicles 20:3 NLT) He called the nation to fast and pray.

He sought God before deciding what to do, and then he waited for God’s direction.

What a contrast. In one battle, he joined another king too quickly and nearly died. In the next, he stopped, sought God, listened, and allowed the Lord to lead him—and God fought the battle for him.

There is tremendous wisdom in knowing the difference between a battle God has called us into and one we simply chose to enter ourselves.

The same is true in our conversations and relationships. We don’t have to insert ourselves into every disagreement we witness. We don’t need to respond immediately when someone provokes us. We shouldn’t make judgments based on one conversation, one screenshot, one person’s version of events, or even our first impression.

Sometimes we need to observe a little longer. Listen to what is actually being said. Ask questions. Pray. Watch the fruit. Give the Holy Spirit room to reveal what we cannot yet see.

Caution doesn’t mean living afraid of people or refusing to help when God calls us. Jehoshaphat still went into battle when the time came. The difference was that this time, God led him there. Wisdom isn’t avoiding every difficult situation; it is refusing to enter one carelessly.

Some waters are deeper than they look. A conversation that seems harmless can pull us into gossip. Someone else’s conflict can become our conflict. An emotional reaction can carry us somewhere we never intended to go. Before we realize it, we’re struggling in waters we never needed to enter in the first place.

Before you jump in, ask God if you were ever supposed to be in those waters in the first place. 💎

Action (5 Minutes with God)

Take 5 minutes to be with the Lord today. Ask Him:

“Lord, what do You want me to know about this personally?”
- Journal what He gives you through His Holy Spirit.
Then ask, “What do You want me to do?”
- Journal what He reveals – then do it!

Before jumping into a situation or conversation today, practice the progression God gave us: look, watch, listen, pray, discern. Ask, Do I understand what is really happening? Have I heard enough to respond wisely? Have I prayed about this? Is God asking me to step in, or am I stepping in on my own? Then move only when you have peace about the next step.

Prayer

Father, give me wisdom to know when to step forward and when to stay out. Slow me down when I am tempted to react before I understand, and help me listen before forming conclusions. Holy Spirit, sharpen my discernment so I recognize danger before I walk into it and know which battles You have actually called me to fight. Teach me to look, watch, listen, pray, and seek You before I act. I don’t want to be led by impulse, emotion, pressure, or curiosity. I want to be led by You. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

To read more 5 Minutes with God devotionals click here.

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Test everything by the Word and the Spirit (John 16:13)

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Jesus portrayed as a lifeguard watches over a small girl standing at the edge of a busy swimming pool, illustrating God's watchful protection and the wisdom of seeking His guidance before jumping into a situation.

Lisa J. Warner / Lisa Luv » 🌐 2026-07-26
@LisaWarnerLisaLuv@mastodon.social

🤗🐓🐓🐓🐓🐓🐓💛🤍🩵❤️🩷💗🧡🤎🖤🐓💛🐓🤍🐓🩵🐓❤️🐓🩷🐓💗🐓🧡🐓🤎🐓🖤🐓💛🐓🤍🐓🩵🐓❤️🐓🩷🐓💗🐓🧡🐓🤎🐓🖤🤗*Depression tends to turn us away from the everyday things of God’s creation!*But whenever God steps in!*His inspiration is to do the most natural!*simple things!*things we would never have imagined God was in!*but as we do them we find Him there!🤗🐓🐓🐓🐓🐓🐓🐓💛🤍🩵❤️🩷💗🧡🤎🖤🐓💛🐓🤍🐓🩵🐓❤️🐓🩷🐓💗🐓🧡🐓🤎🐓🖤🐓💛🐓🤍🐓🩵🐓❤️🐓🩷🐓💗🐓🧡🐓🤎🐓🖤🤗

~Oswald Chambers

#Quote #GOD #Beautiful #Creations

Lisa J. Warner / Lisa Luv » 🌐 2026-07-26
@LisaWarnerLisaLuv@mastodon.social

🤗🐈🐈‍⬛🐈🐈‍⬛🐈🐈‍⬛⚪🟡⚪🟡⚪🟡❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️💚💚💚💚💚💚🐈🐈‍⬛🐈🐈‍⬛🐈🐈‍⬛🐈🐈‍⬛⚪🟡❤️💚🐈🐈‍⬛⚪🟡❤️💚🟡🐈🐈‍⬛⚪🟡❤️💚🐈🐈‍⬛⚪🟡❤️💚🐈🐈‍⬛⚪🟡❤️💚🐈🐈‍⬛🤗*Depression tends to turn us away from the everyday things of God’s creation!*But whenever God steps in!*His inspiration is to do the most natural!*simple things!*things we would never have imagined God was in!*but as we do them we find Him there!🤗🐈🐈‍⬛🐈🐈‍⬛🐈🐈‍⬛⚪🟡⚪🟡⚪🟡❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️💚💚💚💚💚💚💚🐈🐈‍⬛🐈🐈‍⬛🐈🐈‍⬛🐈🐈‍⬛⚪🟡❤️💚🐈🐈‍⬛⚪🟡❤️💚🐈🐈‍⬛⚪🟡❤️💚🐈🐈‍⬛⚪🟡❤️💚🐈🐈‍⬛🤗

~Oswald Chambers

#Quote #GOD #Beautiful #Creations

Lisa J. Warner / Lisa Luv » 🌐 2026-07-26
@LisaWarnerLisaLuv@mastodon.social

*~*Depression tends to turn us away from the everyday things of God’s creation!*But whenever God steps in!*His inspiration is to do the most natural!*simple things!*things we would never have imagined God was in!*but as we do them we find Him there!*~*

~Oswald Chambers

#Quote #GOD #Beautiful #Creations

Lisa J. Warner / Lisa Luv » 🌐 2026-07-26
@LisaWarnerLisaLuv@mastodon.social

🤗☁️🌈☁️🪽😇🪽🌍🌐💌💜✝️👑🕊️💦❤️‍🔥🗣️💒🛐🫂🏩📖📜🧘🏿🧘🏼‍♀️🧘‍♂️👏🙏🙌🧡🤸‍♀️🤗[The end of the matter!*all has been heard!*Fear God!*& keep his commandments!*for this is the whole duty of man!*& WOMAN!*For God will bring every deed into judgment!*With every secret thing!*whether good!*or evil!]🤗💜📖🌍🌐💌✝️👑🕊️💦❤️‍🔥🗣️💒🛐🫂🏩📜🧘🏿🧘🏼‍♀️🧘‍♂️👏🙏🙌🧡🤸‍♀️🍰💗💜🩷🌺🪽😇🪽☁️🌈☁️🤗

(Ecclesiastes 12:9-14)
#Fear #God #Keep #His #Commandments #Jesus #Christ #Holy #Spirit #Savior #Light #World #Pray #Heaven #Hope #Faith #Truth #Goodness #Understanding #Love #Praise #Honor #Thank #Meditate

Lisa J. Warner / Lisa Luv » 🌐 2026-07-26
@LisaWarnerLisaLuv@mastodon.social

Lisa J. Warner / Lisa Luv » 🌐 2026-07-26 / 2026-07-26
@LisaWarnerLisaLuv@mastodon.social

(Ecclesiastes 12:9-14)
#Fear #God #Keep #His #Commandments #Jesus #Christ #Holy #Spirit #Savior #Light #World #Pray #Christian #Heaven #Hope #Peace #Faith #Truth #Goodness #Gentleness #Understanding #Love #Praise #Honor #Thank #Meditate #GRATEFUL

Lisa J. Warner / Lisa Luv » 🌐 2026-07-26
@LisaWarnerLisaLuv@mastodon.social

🤗☁️🌈☁️🪽😇🪽🌍🌐💌💜✝️👑🕊️💦❤️‍🔥🗣️💒🛐🫂🏩📖📜🧘🏿🧘🏼‍♀️🧘‍♂️👏🙏🙌🧡🤸‍♀️🤗(My SONS!*& DAUGHTERS!*beware of anything beyond these!*Of making many books there is no end!*& much study is a weariness of the flesh!)*[The end of the matter!*all has been heard!*Fear God!*& keep👉

(Ecclesiastes 12:9-14)
#Fear #God #Keep #His #Commandments #Jesus #Christ #Holy #Spirit #Savior #Light #World #Preacher #Pray #Christian #Heaven #Hope #Peace #Faith #Truth #Teacher #Goodness #Gentleness #Understanding #Love #Praise #Honor #Thank #Meditate #GRATEFUL

Lisa J. Warner / Lisa Luv » 🌐 2026-07-26
@LisaWarnerLisaLuv@mastodon.social

🤗☁️🌈☁️🪽😇🪽🌍🌐💌💜✝️👑🕊️💦❤️‍🔥🗣️💒🛐🫂🏩📖📜🧘🏿🧘🏼‍♀️🧘‍♂️👏🙏🙌🧡🤸‍♀️🤗(The words of the wise are like goads!*& like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings!*they are given by one Shepherd!)*[My SONS!*& DAUGHTERS!*beware of anything beyond these!*Of making many👉

Lisa J. Warner / Lisa Luv » 🌐 2026-07-26
@LisaWarnerLisaLuv@mastodon.social

🤗☁️🌈☁️🪽😇🪽🌍🌐💌💜✝️👑🕊️💦❤️‍🔥🗣️💒🛐🫂🏩📖📜🧘🏿🧘🏼‍♀️🧘‍♂️👏🙏🙌🧡🤸‍♀️🤗(The Preacher sought to find words of delight!*& uprightly he wrote words of truth!)*[The words of the wise are like goads!*& like nails firmly fixed👉

(Ecclesiastes 12:9-14)
#Fear #God #and #Keep #His #Commandments #Jesus #Christ #Holy #Spirit #Savior #Light #World #Preacher #Pray #Christian #Heaven #Hope #Peace #Faith #Truth #Teacher #Goodness #Kindness #Gentleness #Understanding #Unity #Love #Praise #Honor #Thank #Sing #Meditate #Rejoice #GRATEFUL

Lisa J. Warner / Lisa Luv » 🌐 2026-07-26
@LisaWarnerLisaLuv@mastodon.social

🤗☁️🌈☁️🪽😇🪽🌍🌐💌💜✝️👑🕊️💦❤️‍🔥🗣️💒🛐🫂🏩📖📜🧘🏿🧘🏼‍♀️🧘‍♂️👏🙏🙌🧡🤸‍♀️🤗(Besides being wise!*the Preacher also taught the people knowledge!*weighing!*& studying!*& arranging many proverbs with great care!)👉

(Ecclesiastes 12:9-14)
#Health #Wellness #Fear #God #and #Keep #His #Commandments #Jesus #Christ #Holy #Spirit #Savior #Light #World #Church #Preacher #Pray #Christian #Heaven #Hope #Peace #Faith #Truth #Teacher #Goodness #Kindness #Hospitality #Gentleness #Understanding #Unity #Love #Praise #Honor #Thank #Sing #Meditate

Lisa J. Warner / Lisa Luv » 🌐 2026-07-26
@LisaWarnerLisaLuv@mastodon.social

🤗☁️🌈☁️🪽😇🪽🌍🌐💌💜✝️👑🕊️💦❤️‍🔥🗣️💒🛐🫂🏩📖📜🧘🏿🧘🏼‍♀️🧘‍♂️👏🙏🙌🧡🤸‍♀️🤗(DEAR DARLING!*& BELOVED FRIENDS ON THIS MARVELOUS REALM OF EARTH GOD CREATED PLEASE PONDER ON THE FOLLOWING TEACHING)👉

(Ecclesiastes 12:9-14)
#Health #Wellness
#Fear #God #and #Keep #His #Commandments #Jesus #Christ #Holy #Spirit #Savior #Light #World #Preacher #Pray #Christian #Heaven #Hope #Peace #Faith #Truth #Teacher #Goodness #Kindness #Gentleness #Understanding #Unity #Love #One #Another #Praise #Honor #Thank #Sing #Meditate #Rejoice #GRATEFUL

Lisa J. Warner / Lisa Luv » 🌐 2026-07-26
@LisaWarnerLisaLuv@mastodon.social

🤗☁️🌈☁️🪽😇🪽🌍🌐💌💜✝️👑🕊️💦❤️‍🔥🗣️💒🛐🫂🏩📖📜🧘🏿🧘🏼‍♀️🧘‍♂️👏🙏🙌🧡🤸‍♀️🤗*Health!*& Wellness!*& Fear God!*& Keep His Commandments!🤗🌍🌐💌✝️👑🕊️💦❤️‍🔥🗣️💒💒🛐🫂🏩📜🧘🏿🧘🏼‍♀️🧘‍♂️👏🙏🙌🧡🤸‍♀️☁️🌈☁️🪽😇🪽🤗👉

(Ecclesiastes 12:9-14)
#Health #Wellness #Fear #God #and #Keep #His #Commandments #Jesus #Christ #Holy #Spirit #Savior #Light #Angels #World #Church #Preacher #People #Pray #Christian #Heaven #Hope #Peace #Faith #Truth #Teacher #Goodness #Kindness #Hospitality #Gentleness #Understanding #Unity #Love #One #Another #Praise #Honor #Thank #Sing #Meditate #Rejoice #GRATEFUL

Lisa J. Warner / Lisa Luv » 🌐 2026-07-26
@LisaWarnerLisaLuv@mastodon.social

☁️🌈☁️🪽😇🪽✝️👑🕊️💦❤️‍🔥🗣️💌🧘🏿🧘🏼‍♀️🧘‍♂️👏🙏🙌💒🛐🫂🏩📖📜🧡🌍🌐💜💁‍♀️*[DEAR BELOVED FRIENDS ON THIS ENTIRE EARTH TODAY’S PASSAGES ARE ON THE FOLLOWING SUBJECTS]*Health!*& Wellness!*& Fear God!*& Keep His Commandments!👉

(Ecclesiastes 12:9-14)
#Health #And #Wellness
#Fear #God #and #Keep #His #Commandments #Jesus #Christ #Holy #Spirit #Savior #Light #Angels #World #Church #Preacher #People #Pray #Christian #Heaven #Hope #Peace #Faith #Truth #Teacher #Goodness #Kindness #Hospitality #Gentleness #Understanding #Unity #Love

Lisa J. Warner / Lisa Luv » 🌐 2026-07-26
@LisaWarnerLisaLuv@mastodon.social

🕺🏿💃🏼🪇🧑🏿‍🎤👩🏼‍🎤👨‍🎤🧑‍🩰🕺🏽💃💃🏾💃🏻🧑‍🩰🛼🛼🥁🪘🎻💗💜🩷🩵🌴🤙🌊🍉🚣‍♀️🧉⛵⚓🦭🪁⛱️🏖️👙🏄‍♀️🐬🩱🐋🐳🏝️🩳🛝🎠🎡🎪🎢🤸‍♀️🎈🍰🌏🌐💛💁🏿‍♀️*DEAR BELOVED HONORABLE!*& GENTLE FRIENDS I HOPE!*PRAY!*& WISH YOU ALL A PROFOUND ENLIGHTENED DAY!*& STAYING VERY SAFE!*& HAVING A FUN!*WHIMSICAL!*& SURROUNDED BY LOVE!*& LIGHT AWESOME BEAUTIFUL!*& WONDERFUL DAY!*AMEN!†*& BY THE WAY I LOVE YOU ALL VERY MUCH!*& I AM VERY GRATEFUL TO BE CONNECTED TO ALL YOU BRIGHT SPIRITS!*AMEN AGAIN!†🤗💗💜🩷🩵🌴🤙🌊🍉🚣‍♀️🧉⛵⚓🦭🪁⛱️🌏🫂*HUGS!🫂🌐🏖️👙🏄‍♀️🐬🩱🐋🐳🏝️🩳🛝🎠🎡🎪🎢🤸‍♀️🎈🍰🤗👉

#God #Jesus #Christ #Holy #Spirit #Hope #Truth #Goodness #Love

Lisa J. Warner / Lisa Luv » 🌐 2026-07-26
@LisaWarnerLisaLuv@mastodon.social

#Health #Wellness #God #Commandments #Jesus #Christ #Holy #Spirit #Savior #Light #Angels #World #Church #Preacher #People #Pray #Christian #Heaven #Hope #Peace #Faith #Truth #Teacher #Goodness #Kindness #Hospitality #Gentleness #Understanding #Unity #Love #One #Another #Praise #Honor #Thank #Sing #Meditate #Rejoice #GRATEFUL

Lisa J. Warner / Lisa Luv » 🌐 2026-07-26
@LisaWarnerLisaLuv@mastodon.social

🕺🏿💃🏼🪇🧑🏿‍🎤👩🏼‍🎤👨‍🎤🧑‍🩰🕺🏽💃💃🏾💃🏻🧑‍🩰🛼🛼🥁🪘🎻💗💜🩷🩵🌴🤙🌊🍉🚣‍♀️🧉⛵⚓🦭🪁⛱️🏖️👙🏄‍♀️🐬🩱🐋🐳🏝️🩳🛝🎠🎡🎪🎢🤸‍♀️🎈🍰🌏🌐💛💁🏿‍♀️*DEAR BELOVED HONORABLE!*& GENTLE FRIENDS I AM FEEDING MY SPIRIT WITH GOOD!*& LOVING THINGS!*& SHARING WITH YOU ALL LIKE WE ARE ONE BIG VAST CHURCH ACROSS THE REALM OF EARTH SO WE ALL GAIN UNDERSTANDING!*& POSITIVE LOVING HOPE TO BUILD UP!*& BOOST UP ALL OTHERS GENTLY!*AMEN!🙏👉

#God #Commandments #Devotional #GOD #Jesus #Christ #Holy #Spirit #Savior #Light #World #Church #Pray #Heaven #Hope #Faith #Truth #Goodness #Gentleness #Unity #Love

Lisa J. Warner / Lisa Luv » 🌐 2026-07-26
@LisaWarnerLisaLuv@mastodon.social

🕺🏿💃🏼🪇🧑🏿‍🎤👩🏼‍🎤👨‍🎤🧑‍🩰🕺🏽💃💃🏾💃🏻🧑‍🩰🛼🛼🥁🪘🎻💗💜🩷🩵🌴🤙🌊🍉🚣‍♀️🧉⛵⚓🦭🪁⛱️🏖️👙🏄‍♀️🐬🩱🐋🐳🏝️🩳🛝🎠🎡🎪🎢🤸‍♀️🎈🍰🌏🌐💛💁🏿‍♀️*DEAR BELOVED HONORABLE!*& GENTLE FRIENDS GOOD SUNDAY MORNING!🌞👉

#Health #Wellness
#Fear #God #and #Keep #His #Commandments #Sunday #Devotional #GOD #Jesus #Christ #Holy #Spirit #Savior #Light #World #Church #Pray #Christian #Heaven #Hope #Peace #Faith #Truth #Teacher #Goodness #Kindness #Hospitality #Gentleness #Understanding #Unity #Love #One #Another #Praise #Honor #Thank #Sing #Meditate #Rejoice #GRATEFUL

Alt...

A picture of inside a bright lighted shining powder blue and white church that looks glorious to my eyes

Lisa J. Warner / Lisa Luv » 🌐 2026-07-26
@LisaWarnerLisaLuv@mastodon.social

🕺🏿💃🏼🪇🧑🏿‍🎤👩🏼‍🎤👨‍🎤🧑‍🩰🕺🏽💃💃🏾💃🏻🧑‍🩰🛼🛼🥁🪘🎻💗💜🩷🩵🌴🤙🌊🍉🚣‍♀️🧉⛵⚓🦭🪁⛱️🏖️👙🏄‍♀️🐬🩱🐋🐳🏝️🩳🛝🎠🎡🎪🎢🤸‍♀️🎈🍰🌏🌐💛💁🏿‍♀️*DEAR BELOVED HONORABLE!*& GENTLE FRIENDS AROUND THE WORLD GOOD SUNDAY MORNING!🌞👉

#Health #And #Wellness
#Fear #God #and #Keep #His #Commandments #Sunday #Devotional #GOD #Jesus #Christ #Holy #Spirit #Savior #Light #Angels #World #Church #Preacher #People #Pray #Christian #Heaven #Hope #Peace #Faith #Truth #Teacher #Goodness #Kindness #Hospitality #Gentleness #Unity #Love #Praise #Honor #Thank #Sing #Meditate #Rejoice #GRATEFUL

Gems of Knowledge » 🌐 2026-07-26
@gemsofknowledge.com@gemsofknowledge.com

Choose Your Words Wisely

When we speak, what are our words accomplishing? Are they building, healing, encouraging, teaching, and pointing people toward Him—or are we simply saying whatever comes to mind? Today's Gem of Knowledge says: “Speak less. Speak only to edify. You will be accountable for every careless word you speak. So speak wisely in every situation.” Our words should carry both grace and truth, spoken with the purpose. We won't always get it right, but the more surrendered our hearts become to Christ, the more surrendered our mouths should become too. 💎 ✨Click to read the full devotional [SENSITIVE CONTENT]

Today’s One Year Bible Verses: 2 Chronicles 17:1–18:34 • Romans 9:25–10:13 • Psalm 20:1–9 • Proverbs 20:2–3

Speak Only To Edify

Yesterday, the Lord reminded us to speak less and listen more. Today, He takes that lesson one step further: when we do speak, what are our words accomplishing? Are they building, healing, encouraging, teaching, and pointing people toward Him—or are we simply saying whatever comes to mind?

Today’s Gem of Knowledge says:

“Speak less. Speak only to edify. You will be accountable for every careless word you speak. So speak wisely in every situation.”

Our words matter far more than we sometimes realize. Jesus warned in Matthew 12:36 that we will give an account for every idle word we speak. That should make us think twice before allowing anger, frustration, gossip, sarcasm, criticism, or even careless joking to come pouring out of our mouths. Once words are spoken, we cannot pull them back, and sometimes a sentence that took five seconds to say can remain in someone’s heart for years.

But this isn’t only a warning to speak less. It is an invitation to make our words worth speaking.

Paul reminds us in Romans 10 just how powerful words can be when they are aligned with truth:

“For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.” (Romans 10:10 NLT)

The same mouth that can wound someone can encourage them. The same tongue that can spread gossip can proclaim the Gospel. Our words can stir conflict or bring peace, tear down someone’s confidence or remind them who they are in Christ. We get to choose how we use them.

Today’s reading in 2 Chronicles gives us a sobering picture of what can happen when someone speaks what another person wants to hear instead of what they need to hear. King Ahab gathered hundreds of prophets who assured him that going into battle would bring victory. Their words sounded encouraging, but they weren’t true. Micaiah stood alone and spoke the message God had given him, even though it was unpopular and ultimately landed him in prison. Ahab chose the voices he preferred, went into battle anyway, and died exactly as Micaiah had warned.

That reminds us that edifying speech doesn’t mean telling people whatever makes them feel good. Sometimes the most loving thing we can say is a difficult truth.

To edify means to build up, and you cannot truly build someone up with a lie.

Our words should carry both grace and truth, spoken with the purpose of helping rather than hurting, correcting rather than condemning, and drawing someone closer to God rather than simply proving ourselves right.

Proverbs 20:3 says, “Avoiding a fight is a mark of honor; only fools insist on quarreling.” (NLT)

There are times when wisdom speaks boldly, and there are times when wisdom realizes nothing profitable will come from another sentence.

We don’t have to respond to every accusation, correct every opinion, defend ourselves in every disagreement, or have the last word. Sometimes honoring God means closing our mouths and allowing Him to handle what comes next.

Before we speak, perhaps we need to begin asking ourselves: Does this need to be said? Is it true? Will it help? And can I say it in a way that honors Jesus?

We won’t always get it right, but the more surrendered our hearts become to Christ, the more surrendered our mouths should become too.

Before you release another word into the world today, ask yourself: Will this leave the person who hears it better—or more broken—because I said it? 💎

Action (5 Minutes with God)

Take 5 minutes to be with the Lord today. Ask Him:

“Lord, what do You want me to know about this personally?”
- Journal what He gives you through His Holy Spirit.
Then ask, “What do You want me to do?”
- Journal what He reveals – then do it!

Pay special attention to your words today. Before responding—especially when you’re irritated, offended, or tempted to gossip—give yourself a moment to ask whether your words will edify.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me remember that my words matter to You. Guard my mouth when silence would be wiser, and give me courage to speak when truth needs to be heard. Forgive me for the careless words I’ve spoken and the times I’ve used my tongue to wound rather than build. Holy Spirit, teach me to speak with wisdom, grace, truth, and love so that my words bring life to others and honor Jesus. May even the ordinary conversations I have today reflect You. In Jesus’ mighty name I pray, Amen.

To read more 5 Minutes with God devotionals click here.

Test everything by the Word and the Spirit (John 16:13)

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A wise king holds a scroll and addresses his royal court while everyone listens in silence, illustrating biblical wisdom and the importance of choosing our words carefully.

Lisa J. Warner / Lisa Luv » 🌐 2026-07-25
@LisaWarnerLisaLuv@mastodon.social

🛐💞🌏💞🌐💞🛐*DEAR Heavenly Father!*PLEASE give me wisdom!*& help me to live peacefully with others!*& PLEASE Let Your Word be the basis for all my thoughts!*& actions!*& DEAR LORD GOD ALMIGHTY PLEASE Help me to show in my life the joy I have in the forgiveness Jesus earned for me!*& THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR EVERYTHING!*In CHRIST Jesus’ name I pray!*Amen!†💫💞🌐💞🌏💞💫

#GOD #JESUS #Christ #Holy #Spirit #Savior #Light #World #UNITY #Prayer #Heaven #Hope #Peace #Faith #Truth #Goodness #Love #Harmony #Eternity