Good Sense

Proverbs 10:8
If you have good sense, you will listen and obey; if all you do is talk, you will destroy yourself.

I read this today and thought I’d share it with you here.

We all do just fine when it comes to talking and trying to be heard. But, I think it’s safe to say we all need to do a better job of listening sometimes. I know I do.

Time to do some more listening (and obeying) and a little less talking.

Have a good day.

So Much to Say

I have been blessed with the ability to speak and communicate effectively. I make my living as a communicator.

But that same mouth that delivers carefully crafted messages also has a tendency to say some really dumb things in other settings. I can communicate with the best of them professionally but on a personal level, I’m not always at the top of my game.

I have a way of saying just the wrong thing sometimes. I get defensive with certain things. I don’t always know when to let things go or simply listen for a while. Basically, I become a babbling mess at times…just ask my girlfriend. Right, dear? 🙂

As a guy, I get into Mr. Fix-It mode a lot as well. It’s been pretty well documented through the years that as men, we have a tendency to try to come up with solutions to stuff when just listening or offering some supportive words is often what is really desired from us.

From Chapter 2 (Disclaimer: I don’t necessarily agree with all that’s written in this book but this chapter contains some pretty insightful observations) of Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus:

‘A man tries to change a woman’s feelings when she is upset by becoming Mr. Fix-It and offering solutions to her problems that invalidate her feelings.’

D’oh! That hurts…you know, because it’s true. Sorry, dear 🙂

I’m reminding myself today to 1) put a cork in it every now and then, and also to 2) ask for God’s help daily so that when it’s time to open my mouth at any point of my day, the things I say are glorifying to Him and edifying to others.

Have a great day everyone.

Psalm 141
³ Take control of what I say, O Lord,
    and guard my lips.

Listen in Silence

I was reading this passage this morning and felt I should share it. It’s the latest in a series of passages on wisdom that I have been taking a look at. I need to remind myself to listen in silence, as the verse says, more often. All the wisdom I’ll ever need is right there waiting for me.

 

Elihu Speaks  Job 33 Job, listen to me! Pay close attention.  *2Everything I will say 3is true and sincere,  4just as surely as the Spirit of God All-Powerful   gave me the breath of life.  5Now line up your arguments and prepare to face me.  6We each were made from clay, and God has no favorites,  7so don’t be afraid of me or what I might do. 8I have heard you argue 9that you are innocent,   guilty of nothing.  10You claim that God has made you his enemy,  11that he has bound your feet and blocked your path.  12But, Job, you’re wrong–   God is greater than any human.  13So why do you challenge God to answer you?  14God speaks in different ways,   and we don’t always recognize his voice.  *15Sometimes in the night, he uses terrifying dreams  16to give us warnings.  17God does this to make us turn from sin and pride  18and to protect us from being swept away   to the world of the dead.  19Sometimes we are punished with a serious illness   and aching joints.  20Merely the thought of our favorite food   makes our stomachs sick,  21and we become so skinny   that our bones stick out.  22We feel death and the grave taking us in their grip.  23One of a thousand angels then comes to our rescue   by saying we are innocent.  24The angel shows kindness, commanding death to release us,   because the price was paid.  25Our health is restored, we feel young again,  26and we ask God to accept us.   Then we joyfully worship God,   and we are rewarded because we are innocent.  27When that happens, we tell everyone,   “I sinned and did wrong, but God forgave me  28and rescued me from death! Now I will see the light.” 29God gives each of us chance after chance  30to be saved from death and brought into the light   that gives life.  31So, Job, pay attention and don’t interrupt,  32though I would gladly listen   to anything you say that proves you are right.  33Otherwise, listen in silence to my wisdom.