Clouds on the horizon today (May 31st) along the Merrimack River
“The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint.” Proverbs 17:27
(Verse chosen from today’s Bible reading – Proverbs 16-18 & Romans 12)
How often do I try to “encourage” others to recognize my “brilliance?” Talk about grasping for straws!
How desperate am I to get noticed for what I’ve done? So much Scripture explains that resulting recognition is all I’ll be getting. God knows what I’m doing. His recognition is what I should be seeking.
Have you ever been around someone who you perceived as smart in their own eyes? They’re full of themselves. They’re overflowing with “I think this,” and “I did that.” They are quick to tell others what they should do. You suspect that they specialize in telling others so that they don’t have to face themselves.
Solomon’s advice, through God’s leading, is that the more I know the less I have to overpower folks with my conclusions.
Have you ever been with folks who specialize in turning conversations to what they’re doing and how well they’re doing it? They don’t want a conversation. They want an audience to preach to.
I have been accused of “preaching.” It is never a compliment when given. The person is trying to tell me that they didn’t ask for what I have to say and aren’t interested in what I have to say. Yet I try and force it on them anyhow. Very silly on my part.
I work part-time (driver’s education) in which the audience is very receptive to my teaching. They want to get their licenses. They know that I have (at least I hope I have) instructions that will benefit them to reach their goal. So they listen and try and do what I ask. When I am away from driver’s ed and am a different audience in a conversation it is easy to imagine that the new audience is as receptive as the student audience. They generally aren’t and it is important for me to practice the restraint today’s verse calls for.
“Lord, forgive me for my lack of verbal restraint. Your Words are the words I want to possess and Your Timing is the timing I want to use them in. Forgive me for verbal bad timing. I submit my upcoming conversations to Your monitoring. Prick my conscience what I am out of Your control. Help me, Father. I am weak and You are strong. I love You, Lord.”
His Word For Me 