Hello, and thank you for reading the Proverbs along with me (or just following along with my SOAP highlights).
Today’s verse sounds a lot like the one that got my attention yesterday. Let’s go…
Scripture: Proverbs 13:3
He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin.
Observation:
Hold your tongue and your response, or else!
Application:
Responding to something in haste rarely leads to the optimal result.
Sure, quick comebacks may work on TV, but in the real world, they rarely lead to anything positive.
The writer of this proverb is reminding us to pause before responding, to weigh our response appropriately, or else suffer the negative consequences that often follow acting rashly from emotion as opposed to clear thought.
Reading this sounds great. However, I also think of the many times I did not respond and looked back with regret at not speaking up for myself. I don’t think this is instructing me to hold my tongue completely, but instead to pause, take a beat (or 4) to absorb my feelings and the words and actions coming my way, and then really think through the right response. That response could be a thoughtful statement or action or nothing at all, it really depends on the scenario.
Maybe the answer is knowing myself and acknowledging the need to absorb rather than letting emotions and a need for speed take over. Wouldn’t it be great if we could normalize that?
Prayer:
Father God, thank you for this reminder again to slooooooow down, especially when I may be upset, and, instead, respond after thought. I don’t want ruin to engulf me. I want to speak and act wisely. The next time my impulse is to lash out or even let myself be minimized, help me instead to remember this proverb and pause, think, and respond more appropriately.