Tag Archives: speech

“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.”  (James 1:19-20, NIV)

There is not a more succinct statement of what the disciple of Jesus should aspire than what we read in today’s scripture.

Whomever first uttered the bromide: “The reason God gave us two ears and one mouth is that we should listen twice as much as we talk,” was on to something.  We all should major in listening and minor in speaking!

When you listen with every sense the Lord has given you, you will see what others do not see; you will hear what others cannot hear; and when you are compelled to speak, your sentences will convey the wisdom of God.  – Luther

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“Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.” (Ephesians 4:29, NLT)

Researchers estimate that the average person speaks 16,000 words a day.

Each day, of course, has its own frustrations.  When challenged, do we go with the flow; cursing the situation or heaping abuse on others?  Or, do we choose words that create an island of hope and encouragement for others in the midst of the currents of hopelessness and discouragement?

How many of your 16,000 words today will you allocate to bring light, life, refuge, and encouragement to those who hear you?  – Luther

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“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

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