Walk of Life – Day 15, September 2021 – Thoughts from the Book of Proverbs – Step In
Step in to Speak a Word in Season
A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!” Proverbs 15:23
“A word spoken in due season” – The Lord has given us several instructions regarding what we speak, when we should speak and how we should speak. We need to speak in due season, that is, at the right time. I remember many incidents where I would have spoken or someone else would have spoken at the wrong time. It would make such a difference to the whole conversation and something that was actually quite smooth sailing would get deflected in the wrong direction. At some point, you would actually wonder where you started and why the conversation is at the point it is. On the other hand, I remember conversations where everything would be going totally off, it would be a fight or something very distressing and from the blue, someone would say something that would be like balm and calm everyone down. I am very sure all of us have been in both the situations.
We need people who speak the right word in due season. We need to seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit to speak right. When we are filled with the Word of God and we always seek His face, we will speak the right words at the right time. I always pray this prayer, Lord help me never to speak anything that would hurt anyone unless it is absolutely necessary and you want me to. The following principles I believe must be followed by every child of God.
It is very important to pray before I speak. Each day, tell the Lord, help me to say only what you want me to say. May no unclean words come out of my lips. May my words be a blessing. David prayed, “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.” (Psalm 19:14)
It is very important to think before you speak. Especially when angry, it is said, just walk away from the situation, preferably say nothing. Think with a calm mind and if you need to speak with the person do it prayerfully and kindly. We can have differences of opinion but we need not be rude. Will what I say be useful to my listener? Will it bring glory to God? Will it break someone else? All these need to be considered.
My words should be pleasant, spoken at the right time, bring peace and joy to the listener, be words that the Lord would have me speak, not my own words. The world would sure be a quieter place if all of us learnt to weigh our words. Remember when you write, you can edit, correct, change, and so on but when you speak it can never be changed or reversed. Blessed words bring healing and peace to a broken heart but harsh, rude, words of gossip, flattery, slander, bring pain and grief that may stay on for a very very long time.
“Words are seeds that do more than blow around. They land in our hearts and not the ground. Be careful what you plant and careful what you say. You might have to eat what you planted one day.” -Unknown
