One Year Bible: April 9

Anxiety in the heart of a man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad. ~Proverbs 12:25

To read today’s portion of scripture, you can purchase The One Year Bible (paid link) or find the following in your Bible:

Deuteronomy 33:1-29
Luke 13:1-21
Psalm 78:65-72
Proverbs 12:25

When I first began writing seriously—meaning I started writing for publication—I was so grateful that my only expenses were paper, typewriter cartridge ink, stamps and envelopes. Yes, this was 100 years ago when the internet was just a gleam in Al Gore’s eyes and the latest and greatest in writing implements was the electric typewriter.

Beyond those few items, the real tools of my trade—words—were completely free. I loved that. I could use any word I wanted, as many times as I wanted, and there was no charge.

In the same way, it also costs nothing to share a good word with someone who needs it. Think about that: except for a few seconds of your time, it’s no expense to you to just open your mouth and speak a few of those free words to someone, and make a difference in their mood, attitude, faith, countenance and outlook. Where there was only anxiety-produced depression, you and I have the power to lift the fog and give that person a dose of hope.

Of course, the reverse is true as well. Discouraging words are free too. But why would we ever want to tear another down?

”Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen” (Ephesians 4:29).