CONTROLLING THOUGHT: How should we listen and speak as believers of God. Words can heal, hurt, promise, and deceive. The wise always speaks softly.
KEY VERSE:
A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doeth not so (Proverbs 15:1, 7 KJV).
TEXT:
Proverbs 15:1-9; James 1:19,26 (KJV)
MASSAGE:
You might know the phrase which the former president Theodore Roosevelt said: "Speak softly and carry a big stick." As a matter of fact, Roosevelt understood the power of words, and maybe learnth it from the first verse in this proverb. Speaking softly maybe regarded as a sign of weakness by many, but that is not true, I rather think it is more of a sign of wisdom. I don't take people that speak loudly or argue too much seriously. Let's say, I accuse you of doing something, and you fight me vigorously, does that not make me think that you care too much? If for anything, the power with which you protect yourself makes you seem more faulty. For instance, the lady protests too much, from the Shakespeare play Hamlet. If nothing is done, it would not merit much of the responses at the end.
How should we listen and speak as believers of God's word.
As believers in Christ, we must be careful what we say, how we use our expressions. This proverb aimed at the tremendous efficacy of words: these words can heal; hurt; promise; and deceive. The wise speak softly while the fool speak irrelevantly nonsense, trying to hear themselves. Examine where you belong?
PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, let Your word, the bible that we hear daily, teach us what to say, when to speak and how to speak. When situations demand; may i speak circumspectly as wise, not as fools, in Jesus name - Amen.
