Words Like Honey

“Pleasant words are a honeycomb,
Sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.”
-Proverbs 16:24

The other day after meeting with some friends, I was driving home and reflecting on our conversations. We had sat together for a while and just talked, but I left there feeling so refreshed and so filled up. I realized on that drive home how fulfilling deep and meaningful conversations are. How much it fuels our spirits and fills us up when we get together and talk about things that the Lord has done, when we uplift each other with Truth and the love of Christ.

This experience reminded me of the importance of our words. It reminded me how impactful what we say truly is to our spiritual health and wellbeing. It made me stop and think about what I say each day, am I taking the time to share the things God is doing in my life with others?

Am I taking the time to listen to Him so He can guide me in my conversations? Am I taking the time to listen to the people I am with so I can uplift them with the love and Truth that is within my spirit?

Or am I too busy to slow down and listen? Am I too distracted to sit and talk with others? Not just small talk, not just “on the surface” talk, but conversations that uplift and bring healing.

The Bible says so much about the importance of our words, what we say, how we say it, and when we say it. We can see clearly all throughout scripture that what we say matters. 

But, right now we are going to focus on Proverbs 16:24, “Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.”

Let’s break this down a little bit. The honeycomb has a lot of significance here. Honey is naturally sweet, it has natural healing properties, and it has been considered a prized food, meaning it has value. If our words are like a honeycomb then what you are speaking out should be pleasant, should promote healing and should hold value.

When we go into our conversations with this in mind, we are allowing the Holy Spirit to be in the midst of our conversations. We are speaking from wisdom. 

On the other hand, if you are spending the majority of your time speaking negatively, complaining, talking about others, and speaking from a hardened heart then, the Bible calls you a fool. 

We are either wise or foolish. What do your conversations say about you? What do your words say about the condition of your heart?

Proverbs 15:4 says, "A soothing tongue is a tree of life, But perversion in it crushes the spirit."

When we speak kindness, encouragement and Truth, the Word tells us, this is a tree of life.

What power!

Our words can bring such peace and growth to who we are speaking to, but also to ourselves. These types of conversations bring so much fulfillment. When we invite the Lord into our conversations there will be wisdom and healing.

The opposite of this is perversion in our speech, any deceit, any wrong motive, anything harsh, will lead to a crushed spirit.

We must remember the power in our words, that God has given each of us a testimony to share. Each day, each season, no matter what you are walking through, you can share what the Lord is doing in your life! There is always something to praise Him for, He is always wanting to use you and your words to uplift others and to bring truth and healing.

As you go into this new week, meditate on these Proverbs, and go search out more, allow the Lord to speak to you about your words. Are they sweet like a honeycomb and bringing healing or are they leading to a crushed spirit?