A soft answer

Proverbs 15:1 NKJV — A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.

What beautiful truth!

The soft spoken do not fuel the flame of indignation.

Instead, theirs is the voice of wisdom.

Proverbs 17:27 NKJV — He who has knowledge spares his words, And a man of understanding is of a calm spirit.

A gentle response disarms, giving wisdom without tainting it with selfish intent.

For those who have wisdom have found it in God.

His Word frees us from pride, sin, and selfish ambition.

Therefore, no other truth withstands the turbulence of emotion, the volatility of society, or the accusations of the scoffer like God’s.

Isaiah 40:8 NKJV — The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.”

Those who revere the Lord will follow His commands, finding wisdom for all of life.

Proverbs 10:27 NKJV — The fear of the LORD prolongs days, But the years of the wicked will be shortened.

The Lord created all and therefore He knows what is best, thus His laws are life, instruction for the right way to live.

Proverbs 10:29 NKJV — The way of the LORD is strength for the upright, But destruction will come to the workers of iniquity.

With that comes guidance in how we handle ourselves including our speech.

We must be careful with what we say, how we say it, and when.

Proverbs 15:2 NKJV — The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness.

Proverbs 17:9 NKJV — He who covers a transgression seeks love, But he who repeats a matter separates friends.

Proverbs 25:23 NKJV — The north wind brings forth rain, And a backbiting tongue an angry countenance.

Proverbs 25:11 NKJV — A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold In settings of silver.

Proverbs 24:26 NKJV — He who gives a right answer kisses the lips.

Such vivid word pictures, truly etches into one’s mind the gift of soft answers steeped in God’s wisdom.

It is also is apparent what seeds are spread by the boisterous folly of those careless with their words.

James 3:9-10 NKJV With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God.
Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.

Nor does it seem reasonable that those who praise God, those who speak words of adoration and devotion be also marked as them whose lips spew forth anger, resentment, and all manner of uncleanness.

These things we must take note of.

Our lips are unruly and prone to react instead of respond, but we must not allow it to be so.

Our lives should be different, thus our words should be as well.

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You so much for these verses. Please help my mouth to speak wisdom and to give a soft, gentle answer. Lord, help my heart to be renewed daily by the washing of Your Word. Please teach me to be self-controlled, honorable before You. Lord, help me to keep silent when nothing kind or appropriate comes to mind. Lord, You are our example in all things and I humbly request You help me to know when to speak, what to say, and when to remain silent. Lord Jesus, thank You for Your patience. Thank You for Your faithfulness. To You be all glory, honor, and love. Amen.

The foolish

“The fool has said in his heart, ‘ There  is no God.’ They are corrupt, They have done abominable works, There is none who does good.”
Psalms 14:1 NKJV

Denying the existence of God is foolish.

Yet, there’s so much more than a statement here.

When dealing with the heart one can easily see it’s a far more complex idea.

If the fool says in his heart there is no God, he is choosing to limit the Almighty to his own understanding.

But before we pass by this with a self satisfied, “that’s not me”, “I believe in God”, let’s turn the tables a bit.

To be foolish is to doubt God, it’s the opposite of faith.

Thus no one is immune to folly.

All it requires to be foolish is to allow doubt to enter our hearts.

Who else besides Eve has heard the enemy’s cunning: “Has God indeed said…?”

And doubt is always wrapped in veneer of something else, thus we need to be careful.

“Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.”
Proverbs 4:23 NKJV

The enemy of our souls has used the message of doubt and fear most effectively throughout history.

1 Peter 5:8 NKJV — Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

On top of this our own sinful nature is constantly warring against the truth of God.

Galatians 5:17 NKJV — For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.

But all have hope through Christ Jesus for good, for salvation, for wisdom.

John 10:10 NKJV — “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”

Therefore Jesus, Himself, saves us from folly.

When we put or faith in Him we are saved.

“But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves.  I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.”
John 17:13‭-‬14 NKJV

Fight the foolishness of doubt with faith in Christ.

It’s not a “once and done” choice, but a diligent daily effort.

“O Lord , how great are Your works! Your thoughts are very deep. A senseless man does not know, Nor does a fool understand this.”
Psalms 92:5‭-‬6 NKJV

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You so much for Your faithfulness. Thank You for saving us from folly through Your Word. Please help each one of us to be on guard for the tricks and snares of the enemy. Please show us where we have allowed doubt to cloud our belief. Lord Jesus teach us, that our hearts might be steadfast and our choices good. Please do not allow us to be double-minded, unstable in all our ways. For Your way is right, Your Word is true, and in You we find all that we need. Thank You. Amen.

Time

My times are in Your hand;

Deliver me from the hand of my enemies,

And from those who persecute me.

Psalm 31:15

And He changes the times and the seasons;

He removes kings and raises up kings;

He gives wisdom to the wise

And knowledge to those who have understanding.

Dan. 2:21

And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.”

Acts 1:7

The Lord is in charge of the times and seasons.

Our lives, as well as the lives of countless people before us, have existed inside the restraints of time.

But God doesn’t.

But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

2 Peter 3:8

God is outside of time, because it was something He created.

And inside this time frame He placed the human race.

Understanding that God both created time as well as every single person, it is logical to conclude that we should pay attention to what He has to say about time.

Col. 4:5 Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.

And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed…But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. Romans 13:11&14

See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Eph. 5:15-16

God’s Word is full of wisdom and He clearly states what is true, what is right, and the way to live to the fullest in the time we have.

Not with lives spent focused on pleasure or self-love, not with chasing after wealth or power or status, but a life devoted to Christ Jesus, Our Lord and Savior.

Time spent in relationship with Him is never wasted.

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You for time. Thank You for giving us Your Word, that we might find life and that more abundantly. Thank You for walking with us through all times and having such love and grace for each one of us. Lord, it is only through You that we can find truth, purpose, or anything worthwhile. Lord, only in You do we find the meaning of life and the use for time. Please help me to spend my time wisely and to be drawing every day from Your wisdom and walking in Your ways. Thank You. Amen.