by Dona Hake
The past few days the devotionals I have created are on the power of our words. Are we helping to encourage people around us or our words slipping out before we pause and think before we speak?
Proverbs 21:23 (the Message)
“Watch your words and hold your tongue; you’ll save yourself a lot of grief.”
Have you ever had those times you say something and even as it is coming out of your mouth you are thinking, “oh no! …this is a big mistake, I should not be saying this.” I once heard someone say that just because you are thinking something does not mean you have to speak it. There will be times that you actually do have the right answer for the individual you are in a conversation with but it is not God’s timing for you to speak,nor is it time that they are able to handle the truth you desire to speak. Timing is everything! Many times especially in conflicts or disagreements God may ask us to be silent for that moment, and speak only to Him in prayer over the matter.
I can personally testify of times that I felt that someone just had to hear what I thought. You know that feeling when you feel you have the very answer that they need so why would they not want to hear it. When you hear the voice of the Holy Spirit silencing you, it would be wise for you to keep that individual in your heart in prayer. Ask Him for His timing that you are to deliver the words that you had on your heart. You know what?….He may not want you to be the person to speak at all. Sometimes the Lord has someone else assigned to bring a truth to that person in your life.
We must always look back and remember the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Pause and think about all the people that the Lord instrumentally used to bring you to the knowledge of Him. Even as we continue to grow it is wonderful to know that those that love us hold us up in prayer believing for the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
Let us be diligent to ask Him to help us everyday to continue to grow in the knowledge of His Word and may we seek Him that we speak words that build people up.