Words.... and Health

Proverbs 12:18 NKJV:
There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, But the tongue of the wise promotes health.

For all of us who have been given the gift, grace and privilege to speak, we must be grateful. First of all, it is not a right or an entitlement; you don't get to buy it in the market or inherit it on the death of a parent. It is a gift from God and like all gifts, it is supposed to bless both the holder and the giver of the gift.
In reality, the opposite is the case. As we honestly examine our hearts and the fruits of our lives, what do we see or hear? Our words have moved from the cautious to the caustic, from the courteous to the disrespectful; from healing and virtue to condemnation and vitrol. We randomly move from appreciation to abuse, from words of praise to curses. Our words no longer heal, bless, restore and renew lives. We have found a new habit of talking endlessly: whether you have anything sensible to say or not, you just must respond appropriately to any perceived insult.
An inconsistent and unpredictable life can never be a blessing to God or his/her generation. A life that does not have cultivated speech and a prepared and God-directed heart can never produce God-inspired results. God's Word speaks a lot about the certain and precise connection of our hearts to our speech. All we say is a product of the deposits and investments in our hearts.
We must therefore examine our hearts again and filter out junk, dirt and evil. God does not need filthy vessels for his use. He may honour the name you call with your tongue but he definitey will not bless a life that is unproductive, unfruitfu and unyielding to his leading and correction.
Let us take heed then: God is looking for clean vessels he can use. All he needs is my availability, humility and simplicity. He will qualify me for his work and get me to the place he's already prepared for me. His time of favour is here.