Proverbs 13-16: I am in the process of writing a webinar on speaking entitled What’s That You Say? I am hoping to have it out in August, but as a part of that course I have been doing some research. In the information I have gathered statistics say you only receive 7% from the content of what is actually said. The other 93% of what you take in is what you see and what you hear. So just like your momma told you, it isn’t what you said, it is How you said it. You body communicates (including that eye roll) Your tone bespeaks your less than honest I’m sorry.
I think that is some of what Solomon was getting at when he wrote.
15:1 “A soft answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
It is how you say something that will fuel the fire or move it toward a more controlled conversation. This true in family situations, business dealings, or even with relationships heading in the wrong direction.
Solomon also wrote:
15:4 “A gentle tongue is a tree of life,
but perverseness in it breaks the spirit. ”
Gentle words promote unity or at least a lack of hostility, but perverseness is to be contrary. Perverse conversation is one that goes against you no matter what you are saying. They just want to be contrary. You may even know this kind of person who when you say the sky is blue they say not its not, it is gray. If you say grass is green they say not always. Sometimes it is brown. You may find it challenging to be around them because they suck the life out of you. Don’t be that person! Be a life giver. Use your words to give life and build others up.
One last verse
15:15 “All the days of the afflicted are evil,
but the cheerful of heart has a continual feast.”
You speak from what is in your heart. If we are cheerful and having a feast of thankfulness to God, your words will draw people to the Father. That should be our goal no matter whether we are speaking to our children, the person in line at the grocery store, or speaking to a Sunday school class or bible study group, when our hearts are centered on the Father and knowing Him, our words will be life giving and filled with hope. May you have a life giving day today as you train your tongue to speak life!