Pr. 8:8: “All the words of my mouth are with righteousness; nothing crooked or perverse is in them.”
Do you remember when almost every plate of food you were served in a restaurant had a sprig of parsley on the side? It was not just added to make the plate look pretty and add some color. After your meal, you could chew on the parsley to freshen up your mouth and aid in digestion.
This verse about wisdom reminds me of that parsley garnish. There are so many undesirable things that surround us, with which we can fill our mouths. We can choose to allow rank, sour, and noxious words to pour forth from our mouths, or we can choose to seek the wisdom and will of the Lord and freshen ourselves up.
Wisdom has nothing crooked or perverse in its mouth. All the words of wisdom are fresh, pure, and excellent. But remember what Jesus said about what comes out of the mouth…it is what has been stored up in the heart. You must be intentionally storing wisdom, fear and love of the Lord, and a desire to do God’s will in order for your mouth to bring forth fresh words.
How do you do that? Read and study God’s word. Delight yourself in Him and obey His precepts. Pray and spend time in the presence of the Lord. Allow yourself to submit to His will and the leading of the Holy Spirit. When you are so full of God that you cannot move without Him, the words that pour forth from your mouth will be refreshing springs of living waters that reach out to everyone around you.
Don’t push aside wisdom, as many pushed aside their garnish. Savor and enjoy the wisdom of the Lord. Not only will it help you digest this life in a more satisfying way, but it will be pleasant and delightfully fragrant to those around you who need a breath of fresh air.
Freshening up,
jamie
considering the word 