TODAY’S SIGNATURE VERSE ••• She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. (Proverbs 31:26 NIV)
PRAISE & PRAYER PROMPT ••• She Speaks is an annual women’s conference organized by Proverbs 31 Ministries, and its content is geared to Christian writers, speakers, and leaders. I dreamed of going to this conference for a long time before I got my first opportunity in 2017 (still the best birthday gift my mom ever gave me!). And, if it weren’t for Coronavirus, I’d be in Charlotte, NC today for She Speaks 2020. Actually, if it weren’t for Coronavirus, I’d have been in Charlotte on Thursday for She Speaks pre-conference. I look forward to this event every year, and it was disappointing to hear they had to cancel the in-person experience. But, I give huge accolades to the She Speaks team… they’ve turned this conference on its head, and the online version starts today at 11. We have two full days of online content to absorb, so please pray for the 2000+ women who will be participating, including me. Since Proverbs 31 Ministries doesn’t do anything halfway, I’m certain it’s going to be great, but I’m really going to miss the time meeting and talking with other women.
Today, let’s talk about the verse this conference is named for. Proverbs 31:26 says, “She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue” (NIV). If you’re familiar with Proverbs 31, this is a verse taken from the last chapter of Proverbs, and it describes “The Wife of Noble Character.” It’s a beautiful passage of Scripture, and for us ladies—a little intimidating, especially when we start comparing all our flaws to that of this virtuous woman.
Though the passage is referred to as “The Wife of Noble Character,” there’s a takeaway for anyone, whether married or single: “She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.” Guys, feel free to change the pronouns to “he/his” because these are virtues we should all strive for… and ask yourself—do you make it a habit to speak with wisdom? And what does faithful instruction mean? The ESV translation (as well as the KJV and NLT) calls that “the teaching of kindness.”
So a Proverbs 31 woman will speak with wisdom and address others with kindness. And shouldn’t we all?
Let’s let at some other verses that talk about the importance of speaking in wisdom and kindness:
- “My mouth shall speak wisdom; the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.” (Psalm 49:3)
- “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” (Colossians 3:16)
- “For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict.” (Luke 21:15, a promise spoken by Jesus)
- “Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul, and health to the body.” (Proverbs 16:24)
- “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” (Colossians 4:6)
- “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32)
Kindness is a Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22), and God generously gives wisdom to all who ask (James 1:5). These two virtues are significant and relevant, no matter who you are, and no matter what your status. It’s not just about being nice and having good manners. Speaking to others with wisdom and kindness is a powerful tool for our witness for Christ.
So just as “She Speaks” with wisdom and kindness, let us make it a practice ourselves… so that when others hear Proverbs 31:26, “______ speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her/his tongue,” your name can easily fill in the blank.
Today, as you pray, thank God for this beautiful passage that outlines the characteristics of the virtuous woman. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you emulate her characteristics, especially as you speak to others. Ask Him to supply you with wisdom as Jesus promised and to give you a heart of kindness and love that is visible to others.
SHARING ••• My Grace-Full Life is written by Denise Heidel. You are welcome to share anything I write, but please credit my writing and graphics accordingly. Visit www.MyGraceFullLife.com to read past blogs. Subscribe through my website to have My Grace-Full Life delivered to your email. You can unsubscribe at any time. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the ESV translation.
