Thoughts on Proverbs 2

The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, the tongue of the righteous is as choice silver, the lips of the righteous feed many, the mouth of the righteous flows with wisdom, the lips of the righteous bring forth what is acceptable. (Proverbs 10: 11a, 20a, 21a, 31a, 32a NASB)

If I want to speak in a way that is pleasing to God, what do I look for? These verses give me a pretty good rubric for evaluating myself. Is my speech life-giving? Do people come away from talking to me invigorated, ready to take on the world, the flesh and the devil in Christ's name. Secondly, is my speech like choice silver? Is every word considered? Do I only speak the best of the thoughts that run through my mind? Do my lips feed many? Am I indiscriminate in whom I bless or do I chose to only 'feed' those I want to? I know a beautiful girl who spends her time encouraging dozens of people who are usually overlooked. Does my mouth flow with wisdom and do I bring forth what is acceptable? Or am I known for foolish speech and an unclean mind?

But the mouth of the wicked conceals violence, the heart of the wicked is worth little, the tongue of the wicked will be cut out, but the mouth of the wicked [brings forth] what is perverted. (Proverbs 10:11b, 20b, 31b, 32b NASB)

Violence and perversion distinguish the speech of the wicked. Are you one who leaps at the opportunity to make jokes with innuendos or say things that cut others down?

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, Oh LORD, my rock and my Redeemer. (Psalm 19:14 NASB)

A prayer

Dear Lord,
Help me to see You as You are, not as I want You to be.* Help me to see myself as I am, not as I think I am. Help me to see Christ mediating between the true You and the true me by faith.

*Developed in C.S. Lewis book "Mere Christianity"