Christian Living

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“A soft answer turns away wrath, but harsh words cause quarrels” (Proverbs 15:1).

If you are doing anything at all for God, you will have words coming to you that do not mirror your efforts in ministry. Unless we learn how to hear criticism and place it squarely where it should be, we won’t progress to the next level with God.

Not everything spoken to us is from a pure heart that wants the best for us. There is criticism that we should hear but it is always accompanied by love. God has taught me to wait a while before I respond to someone who is irritated with something I may have said. Sometimes I don’t respond at all; however, if I do respond I make sure that my answer is soft, backed by scripture and exudes a message filled with love.

So many times people speak from an inner place that has not been washed clean and their promptings are usually from a painful situation they have never dealt with. What spews forth from their lips can be full of anger, hatred and mistrust. Those are the people that God likes to bring by our doorstep to help teach us to meditate on our words before they leave us. God will always give us compassion to minister to someone that produces harsh words flung out to cause wrath to bubble up within us.

Check your lips at the door! Ask God to let your mouth speak only words that help heal the one standing in front of you probably wounded from ill-spoken words.

PRAYER
Lord, put a guard over my mouth so that my words will be pleasant to hear and only bring life to those they fall upon. Help me to always check with You before I blurt out a response. Silence may be the loudest voice to speak clarity at that moment. Amen.

Betsy Cobb Wise
Author, S.O.S.
[email protected]

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