Proverbs 22 “Are you a Kind Person?”

Prov 22:11: The one who loves a pure heart and whose speech is gracious Prov 22:18 For it is pleasing if you keep these sayings within you, and they are ready on your lips.

Do you want to demonstrate the Fruit of the Spirit? Then begin by looking deep within your heart. Does it love others and God? Listen to yourself as the Proverbs writer asks:  are your words gracious or kind? Have you filtered each word through the grid of scripture? Have you prayed: “O Lord, place a guard over my mouth! Protect the opening of my lips!” [Ps 141:3] The writer reminds us that it is pleasing and gratifying when you keep this admonition close to yourself.

As you pray, ask the Holy Spirit to put a guard much like an army sentry over your mouth. Our words begin in the mind before they ever escape out of our mouth. Like a light switch in the off position, our heart’s switch is either in the on or off position.  How often do we want our own approval more than God’s? Remember these words: “Certainly my tongue does not frame a word without you, O Lord, being thoroughly aware of it.” [Ps 139:4]

Instead, be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also forgave you. [Eph 4:32]