Lamp . . . Light – April 13, 2024

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. Psalm 119:105

Proverbs 21

Proverbs 21:23 He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity. NIV.

The account of David’s interaction with Nabal and Abigail in 2 Samuel 25 illustrates the principle of this verse. Nabal is the foil for the proper use of his tongue. He disrespects David’s men and demeans David as a brigand and thief. Infuriated, David intends to avenge this affront and destroy Nabal and his family. When the perceptive servants inform Abaigail of Nabal’s actions, she understands the ramifications. She provides ample supplies and intercepts David before any destruction happens. In so doing she demonstrates the value of using speech in a wise manner to diffuse a tense situation and result in an appropriate solution.

Several years ago, I read a helpful book: Zip It by Karen Ehman. This book provided valuable guidelines on how to identify and remedy the misuse of speech. She identifies six destructive potentials for how we interact with others: judgmentalism, criticism, sarcasm, negativity, complaining, and gossip. I sensed that I had a tendence to utilize three or four of these on a fairly regular basis. Since I read the book I pray almost daily that God keep my speech from these traits and that I might use my speech to express thoughtfulness, helpfulness, inspiring words, nurturing statements, and kindness. How much better it is to speak with the integration of truth and love.

For anyone who might relate to the tendency to regret what one has said, I recommend this book as a starting point to examine how you might face your speech patterns and with God’s help surrender these to become people who bring truth in love with the things you say.

Father, grant me the grace to speak truth in love (Ephesians 4:14). Amen

Lamp . . . Light – March 24, 2024

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. Psalm 119:105

Proverbs 17

Proverbs 17:27 A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, a man of understanding is even-tempered. NIV.

I suspect I am not dissimilar to many when I recall the far too many times I have spoken first and then thought about what I said afterwards. And that thought, “I should NOT have said that!” Some of my greatest regrets result from those times when I have done so. Unable to retract the words, I am left with the daunting task of having to rectify my words. This, at times, requires years to rebuilt trust and restore the relationship. Tragically some relationships are never restored.

What complicated my poor use of words is the tone in which I expressed them. Invariable my most hurtful and destructive words flowed from an unbridled anger and the tenor of my speech may have reflected the truth, but harshly without even a drizzling of love. How could the results of such an interchange be anything other than destructive?

Solomon in this proverb highlights an alternate pattern of speech, one dominated by the maturity of wisdom. It includes using words with restraint. What a wonderful concept. I don’t need to use extravagant terminology or emphasis to make a point. In fact, if I hear another assert that something is “the God’s-honest truth.” I suspect the speaker may not truly know what they are speaking about. Simplicity of speech is more effective in part because the speaker is emphasizing the point made over the manner in which it is presented. Restraint extends also to the intensity with which I speak. How much more effective to be even-tempered as I speak. Yet, we all know how challenging this can be when we are irritated and angry. Restraint and even-tempered speech is inversely proportionate to how hot under the collar I become.

From Proverbs we learn that it is better to say nothing at all (the New Testament asserts it is better to be wronged than to violate God’s grace in our lives) rather than to speak and wreak havoc on all around us.

May the words of my mouth reflect the love and grace of my Savior who willingly took my burden and provided me life abundant and eternal. Amen.

T.H.I.N.K 2020 Vision – Inspiring

Message from January 19, 2020. The text is Ephesians 4:29.

Challenge: Write down at least three things where God has changed your life. List them and write what happened and what your life is like now. Then consider who specifically or in general could benefit from what you experienced.