“A man’s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.” Proverbs 18:20

Our tongues can do great harm, yet they are also capable of doing great good. The words we speak are powerful, having the ability to bring death or life at that moment.

One day, my wife and I went to Panera Bread for lunch. At the counter was a man who seemed confused. He paced back and forth near the cashier's register, mumbling under his breath. I asked, "Sir, are you okay?" He responded in a frustrated tone, "Why are you asking me if I'm okay? Don't ask me that!"

I immediately felt annoyed. However, the Holy Spirit nudged me and said, “son, he’s not well - be patient.”

The cashier kept apologizing for the long wait, to which we responded that it was “okay." I suggested he take his time. There is more to this story, but I've shared enough to draw a conclusion from Scripture.

”From the fruit of a man’s mouth, his stomach is filled or satisfied.” (ESV)

#1 What was the point of my visit to Panera Bread?

I was initially annoyed during this particular situation, although I've experienced other emotions such as anger and disturbance in the past. I went to this restaurant with my wife to enjoy lunch and have a conversation. I understand the words I speak can either satisfy that purpose or aggravate it. I’m not aware of any person's inner struggle or conflict until it is revealed - the Holy Spirit must bring to light the spirit of a man. When that happens, we are commanded to speak "life" rather than death to both the person and the situation.

“…he is satisfied by the yield of his lips” (some translations say ‘harvest’ or ‘product’)

#2 How can I make a positive impact on someone whom I probably will never see again?

Toward the end of our visit, the Holy Spirit told me exactly what to say to this man. I listened and spoke the words that God put in my heart, and shared them with him. I saw a change in the man's face and attitude, and I saw something alive in him that I hadn't noticed before at the counter.

You know, there's an expression that says "you're going to eat those words!" But what if we could actually do that? Like, literally "eat" our own words... I wonder if we would feel satisfied or left feeling empty and unfulfilled?

To every brother reading this, remember that our words have the ability to lift, encourage, and strengthen another person. When we do so, we also benefit ourselves.

Empty words are like empty calories, providing no nourishment. Wholesome words, on the other hand, satisfy the soul. Deadly words, however, can lead to the loss of both life and spirit.

In John 6:63, Jesus said, "the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.”

ᴳᵒ.ᴬʰᵉᵃᵈ