Honey From The Rock

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Honey From The Rock
Psalm 81:16

"Sweet Stuff From God's Word"

A daily Bible study with Victor Knowles
Copyright 2007

Speech Reduction

This entry was posted on 01-14-2007 and is filed under Devotional.

"Do not be rash with your mouth, and let not your heart utter anything hastily before God. For God is in heaven, and you on earth; therefore let your words be few" (Ecc. 5:2 NKJV).

Babies suffer from diaper rash and some people have foot rash but all of us, from time to time, have mouth rash. Speaking hastily has caused more problems in the home, church, and among nations than practically any other thing.

God is witness to everything we say. That should have some kind of governing influence on our speech, don't you think? Are you a person of many words or few words? Do you think before you speak or just blurt out whatever it is you are thinking? No wonder James says, in a companion passage, "Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry" (James 1:19 NIV). Back in Ecclesiastes, the writer suggests, "Walk prudently when you go to the house of the God, and draw near to hear rather than to give the sacrifice of fools..." (v. 1). Let's try that this week.

Prayer: Gracious God, we need Your help to be better listeners in order that we might be more careful speakers. Convict us when we rashly speak without thinking. Help us to speak with measure and dignity we pray in Jesus' name.