Monday, January 16, 2012

Wisdom for the new year - Proverbs 15

Proverbs 15:1-4 ESV

A soft answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger.

The tongue of the wise commends knowledge,
but the mouths of fools pour out folly.

The eyes of the Lord are in every place,
keeping watch on the evil and the good.

A gentle tongue is a tree of life,
but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.


This is one of my favorite Proverbs and yet it is always so hard to
do. When you are in a disagreement with someone the soft answer will
diffuse the situation more times than not. But if we do not the flesh
rises up and a heated battle is likely to occur. It happens so many
times early on in a marriage, both people end up bruised and battered.
But if only one of the two issues a ceasefire, then many times the war
is over.

Our tongues are one of the most powerful parts of our being, James 3:8
"It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison." Many times wisdom is
exhibited in silence. The word unspoken is often the most powerful.
But an unbridled tongue is poisonous to everyone it touches, breaking
the spirit.

"Lord we pray that you take control of our tongues, that you use them
only for building up and not tearing down."

For Him,
Steve

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