The Mirror of the Word by C.E. White can be purchased here: https://www.amazon.com/Mirror-Word-Devotions-Reveal-Refine/dp/B0DFZS83C7  To learn more about this author and other words, visit https://cewhitebooks.com/

“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”

—Proverbs 27:17 

Are we sharpening others or dulling them? We can do either, and so much of that has to do with the words we say.

• Are we taking care that our speech is edifying and our words beneficial (Proverbs 12:25)?
• Are we speaking what is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and worthy of praise (Philippians 4:8)?
• Are our words life–giving and full of wisdom (Proverbs 18:4)?
• Are our words careless or thoughtful (Leviticus 5:4)?
• Is what we speak critical (James 4:11) and boastful (James 3:5) or kind (Proverbs 16:24) and gentle (Proverbs 15:4)?
• Are we speaking blessing or cursing (James 3:10)?
• Are our words true or deceitful (Psalm 34:13)?
• Do we speak words of flattery only to gain favor (Psalm 12:2)?
• Are we speaking God’s good news (Psalm 40:9) or focusing on the dire stories of the world?
• Are we praising the Lord (Psalm 51:15; Hebrews 13:15)?
• Are we speaking biblical truth (John 17:17) and taking care that all our words are in line with the Word of God (Proverbs 5:2)?
• Are we guarding our words or speaking rashly (Proverbs 13:3)?
• Are we being transformed by the renewing of our thoughts (Romans 12:2) and training our hearts in truth and love so that is what we speak (Luke 6:45)?

These are just a fraction of the verses that talk about how we use our words. Proverbs 18:21 says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”

Let us always speak and surround ourselves with those speaking life, not death, and thereby sharpen and be sharpened by those around us.

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