speech | Daily Encouragement

“Do you see someone who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for them.” (Proverbs 29:20, NIV)

We live in a time where we can communicate with millions of other people in seconds, which is all the more reason we ought to heed the advice of today’s proverb.

Each day brings fresh, public examples of people speaking first, and thinking second — and the harm is often as devastating as it is irreparable.

Today, remember to measure your words. Count to ten before giving the snarky reply. Store that prickly e-mail in the “drafts” folder for a while, and re-read it later. Hold that text message: Pressing “send” in the heat of a matter often leads to regret.

God’s wisdom is as useful in the electronic age as it was in the oral age! – Luther

Tagged hasty speech, self-control, speech, the book of Proverbs

November 17

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“Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.” (James 1:26, NIV)

For today and tomorrow, two thoughts about religion’s value.

The first thought is from verse 26 of James’ letter: A religion that is incapable of affecting something as common as our verbal interactions is worthless.

This is not to say that the religion, per se, is worthless. It says that to us, the religion we are professing is worthless, because it has failed to affect our behavior in the most simple and ordinary way.

As disciples of Jesus, if we take seriously our profession of faith, then that faith must affect our lives in not only extraordinary ways, but in ordinary ways as well; not just on the mountaintop or in the valley (for these are temporary extremes in human experience), but on the boring, level plain, as well. – Luther