2020 Daily Devotion - Day 200

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Through the years, I have heard people say things like, “I say what I think” – which really means they don’t think before they speak. They just say whatever comes to mind. And while this sounds bold and courageous, it is most often very destructive because it usually hurts other people and pushes them away. 

Solomon Ibn Gabirol was a Hebrew poet and philosopher, born in Malaga, Spain, about the year 1021 AD. Here is how he explained it:

"As long as a word remains unspoken, you are its master; once you utter it, you are its slave."

It is better to have a filter and to process what we say before we say it. We need to stop and ask, “Will what I am about to say hurt someone’s feelings….will it damage our relationship…is it appropriate at this time?” We need to take a moment and consider the context in which we are speaking.

Proverbs 21:23 ESV
"Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble."

Pray with me:
Heavenly Father, words matter and You have asked us to be good stewards of the words we use. Help us to guard our words and to use them carefully so we may offer grace to others in our lives. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Yours because of Him,
Pastor John R. Steward
Senior Pastor
Mount of Olives Church
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