"What Kind of Words?"
Proverbs 17:27

I was so mad, I could spit.

A coworker, who I thought had my back, publically embarrassed me. So when I got back to my office, I quickly pounded out a harsh email. Point by point I refuted all of the things he said about me.

Bad idea. Really Bad idea.

As soon as I hit "send", conviction worked its way into my heart. The rest of the day was a waste. The Holy Spirit produced sorrow in my heart that exists even today.

The next day, I sheephishly ducked me head into the office of the guy I had verbally ripped the day before. I begged his forgiveness. We spent two hours talking that day and our friendship was healed.

But those words, those cutting, divisive words, had a devastating effect. I made a vow then that I keep to this day. I never, ever express my dissatisfaction with someone in an email. Why? Because an email is too easy, words are cheap when you're safely hidden behind a computer screen. When you don't have to look at the face of the person.

Proverbs says that a man of knowledge uses words "with restraint." He is "even-tempered."

Are you careful with the words you use? Are you do let them fly like verbal knockout punches?

Its too easy today to fire away a text, to add an angry comment, to let it all out on a blog post, facebook status, or on twitter. But words matter.

Are you wise? Use restraint with your words and you'll avoid a lot of verbal sparring matches.

Daniel Darling is an author and pastor with a passion for young people. He is the author of Teen People of the Bible, a 100-day devotional for teens. Visit him on Facebook by clicking here, or at danieldarling.com.