Regardless of What I Think

Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

Ever think to yourself, “Boy, I am sure gonna change that persons perspective” or “I will make them see my way on this subject” or how about “If they just give me two seconds of their time I can show them how wrong they are”?  So many times we think we have just the right things to say to make situations go our way or that our thought processes are so much better than another.  Or perhaps we think we are going to help when in reality we are hindering or hurting.

Words can be awful things.  Sometimes we are so quick to say something we do not even realize the damage we could cause or are causing to someone we just want to help.  We get this urge to just help when in reality we should be zipping our lips and waiting on the Holy Spirit to guide our words.  Our ways of thinking are not always the proper way or sometimes even the way God wants the other person to follow.  We are all individual sons and daughters and what works for us does not always apply to others in our lives.  If we would just take the time to let the Holy Spirit use us, we probably would speak fewer words on a daily basis.

I am learning to sit back.  I am beginning to be slow to my speaking of words aloud until I feel the Holy Spirit is leading me to speak.  I have been so hurt by words in the past that I have no desire to hurt others with the things I might say.  The body of Christ as a whole should be lifting up and edifying itself.  We should always speak in love, not in opinion. We should share our thoughts in love and not expressing condemnation.  Yup, I know, hard place to be.

I have a desire to help the body of Christ to grow.  I have this burning in my spirit not to crush others hopes but to magnify them.  I want to be a source of love and understanding, yet I know there are boundaries and I seek God for those things.  Over and over we hurt those around us and sometimes we don’t even know we are doing it until that close friend we once had just becomes a distant passer-byer in the store or at church functions.  I have lost some friends to this and it grieves my heart.

Looking ahead I can only be accountable for myself.  I can only control my mouth.  I am the only one who can change the environment around me in a positive way.  Only I can choose to edify with my words.  I can be the one who makes the choice to change my attitude.  I pray God convicts every time I open my mouth and speak.  I pray the Holy Spirit teaches me the right way to talk to others around me.  I pray to become more like Jesus each day I awake to another chance at being just like Him…filled with compassion and positive words.

 Proverbs 10:11
The words of the godly are a life-giving fountain; the words of the wicked conceal violent intentions.

Proverbs 10:20
The words of the godly are like sterling silver; the heart of a fool is worthless.

Proverbs 15:4
Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.

Proverbs 16:24
Kind words are like honey— sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.

Proverbs 18:4
Wise words are like deep waters; wisdom flows from the wise like a bubbling brook.