The mind of the [uncompromisingly] righteous studies how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things. – Proverbs 15:28, Amplified Bible (AMP)

When shooting a gun, the correct procedure for making a good shot is, “Ready, aim, fire!” When you aim at your target before you shoot at your target, you are much more likely to hit the target.

When it comes to the words we speak, God prefers us to aim our words before we shoot our words. Unfortunately, most of us shoot off our mouths before we consider what effects our words will have, and by the time we figure out the damage that our words will cause, the damage is already done.

As commentator Matthew Henry writes concerning Proverbs 15:28:

A good man proved to be a wise man by this, that he governs his tongue well; he that does so the same is a perfect man, Jam. 3:2 . It is part of the character of a righteous man that being convinced of the account he must give of his words, and of the good and bad influence of them upon others, he makes conscience of speaking truly…and of speaking pertinently and profitably, and therefore he studies to answer, that his speech may be with grace, Neh. 2:4, Neh. 5:7.

Commentator John Gill adds:

He thinks before he speaks, meditates what he shall say, what answer to give to men; whether in things civil, natural, or religious…though our Lord advises his disciples, when summoned before their persecutors, not to meditate beforehand what they should answer, since they should have immediate assistance, (Luke 21:14); but this was in extraordinary cases; in common ones the observation of the wise man should be attended to.

If you have a tendency to fire your words before you aim your words, realize that this is not the approach God would have you take.  Instead, He would have you consider what you say before you say it. Think before you speak. Consider the consequences of your words. Remember that, “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver,” but “he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.”