It’s important to resist the urge to say anything right when we feel like it to just get it off our chest. Wisdom tells us to be patient and wait for the best time to approach a matter with our words. If we are too hasty, we get our feeling off our chest, but at what cost? Is it worth it if we could have waited for a wiser time to speak that gives us a better chance at bringing about the change or result we desire? James 1:19 tells us:
“Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.”(James 1:19 ESV)
We must not be so quick to speak that we become too prideful to listen. In fact, the Bible is instructing us to take more time to listen than to speak. Doing so gives us the knowledge and insight we need to respond with our words accordingly. If we truly know how powerful our words are, we’ll understand that they should not be used in haste or carelessly.
With His words, God created the Heavens and the Earth, and as His image bearers, we too have power in our words to create, inspire, and encourage. That also means we have just as much power to tear down, destroy, and crush with our words. When we take the time to listen, think, and process more than we talk, we position ourselves to use our words to build up, unite, inform, educate, and empower. Today, I encourage you to listen more and be slow to speak.
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for helping me to listen more to You and others. When I’m tempted to speak more and not listen attentively, help me to use my words to uplift and not tear down. In Jesus’ name, amen.