Proverbs 18:20 From the fruit of their mouth a person’s stomach is filled; with the harvest of their lips they are satisfied.
The stomach is a sensitive organ of the body. What we feed our bodies must be healthy, nutritious, and sustaining. If the digestive system is unable to properly break down certain foods it will lead to symptoms like gas, diarrhea, and pain.
The analogy applies to the gut health of our soul. The stomach is filled by the words of our mouth. “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit” (vs 21). We cannot eat without opening our mouths and we cannot talk without moving our lips. Similarly, the words we speak become the nutrients and nourishment to our soul. The barrier to the breakthrough for many is not the devil but their own words.
Prophet Elisha gave a profound prophecy to Israel in a severe scarcity during a siege but the right hand man of the king could not believe it. The officer said, “Look, even if the Lord should open the floodgates of the heavens, could this happen?” (2 Kings 7:2b). Elisha responded “You will see it with your own eyes,”, “but you will not eat any of it!” And so it was. The next day prophecy pronounced by Elisha came to pass but the unbelieving officer died in the stampede.
Spiritual Health-Checks:
1. Spew: Don’t spew unbelief. There would have been many who would have struggled to believe Elisha’s prophecy, but said nothing. Those who are careless with their confession will eat its outcome.
2. Speak: If the tummy aches check the taste buds. As a bad diet causes gut problems, uncontrolled lips cause heart aches. Bridle the tongue and seal the lips from speaking guile. Words spoken will be harvested.
3. Sup: Sup on God’s Word day and night. Confessing fear is like feeding the stomach with junk but confessing the promises builds the good microorganisms of faith, courage and confidence. “We will become what we eat”. Hence, it is extremely important to open our mouths to feed on God’s Word and open our lips to confess faith into our future.
The mouth and the lips fill our soul.
Prayer: Dear Holy Spirit, help my mouth to speak words of life and my lips to harvest its fruit. Amen.
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