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Medicinal Tongues
Proverbs 15:4
"A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit."
Most often when you hear a sermon on the tongue, you hear about how the tongue is used in a negative way. Sadly, this is most often the case. However, the tongue that has been used to destroy can also be used to heal. The verse above talks about the "wholesome tongue." The word "wholesome" means, a healing or medicinal tongue. Just like you go to the doctor to get medication to heal an infirmity, likewise the tongue can be used as a medicine to heal different situations that it faces. The power of the tongue can be a healing power. There are four ways to use your tongue as a medicinal tongue.
First, use your tongue to appease a wrathful situation. Proverbs 15:1 says, "A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger." This verse is teaching that you need to use your tongue to diffuse explosive situations. When you see people coming who have a countenance that is filled with wrath, instead of answering in a sharp way, answer them with a soft answer. For instance, when someone comes to accuse you of things that are wrong, then you would be wise to diffuse their wrath by acknowledging they are right. I recently had a pastor tell me about a man who came to him and told him that he wasn't right with God. This pastor responded back to this man by telling him he was right. This pastor told the man that he is constantly working on making sure he was right and asked the man to pray that one day he would be right in all areas of his life. This man who came to accuse and attack with his tongue was diffused because of a soft answer. You don't always have to retaliate with your tongue. Learn to answer softly so that you can diffuse explosive situations.
Second, use your tongue to heal a broken spirit. The verse above says, "...perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit." The medicinal tongue will be used to help heal those whose spirit has been broken. Learn to use your tongue to let those with a broken spirit know that you are praying for them. Just a simple statement of encouragement can be used to help heal the broken spirit.
Third, use your tongue to refresh someone's soul. Proverbs 16:24 says, "Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones." Using pleasant and graceful words can be refreshing to someone's soul. In other words, giving a right answer can help refresh someone's soul. Knowing what to say at the right time can make or break someone's thoughts of you. Always ask God for His wisdom so that you will have the right answer for every situation.
Last, use your tongue to create a happy atmosphere. The word "pleasant" not only talks about having the right answer, but it also means to be cheerful. There is nothing like being around people who use their tongue to lift the atmosphere. Let your tongue bring happiness to people. Work hard at using your tongue to cause people to be happy that you have been in their presence.
Christian, don't let your tongue be used to destroy, but let your tongue be used to be a medicine to everyone with whom you come in contact. When you have a medicinal tongue, then you will find that people will want to be around you because your tongue helps make them feel better.