Monday, December 17, 2012

Pause, Ponder, & Pray

Loretta's post below is very appropriate in the light of last week's tragedy.  May we each "pause, ponder, & pray" before we speak.

Col 4:6,   Proverbs 10: 19

I was listening to Robert Morris from Texas on “The Blessed Life,” and he was teaching on the subject of our words. His point was that words can be hurtful. His recommendation, and also the Bible’s recommendation, is that we pause, ponder and pray over what we say to people.  Now, in a conversation we know we can’t drop on our knees and pray in all circumstances, but we can start that day with that prayer for guidance in the use of our words.

Col. 4:6 says, ”Let your speech be with grace, seasoned with salt that we may know how to answer each other.”  This is a good start. Whatever we say, may the words be of understanding and compassion, truth, bringing encouragement and lifting that person’s spirits as the situation requires.

The Bible repeatedly warns us, especially in Proverbs, about talking too much. If we’re talking, we’re not listening and if we are not listening, we are not learning anything about another’s personality or needs.  Listening is one gift of Mercy that needs cultivation in the power of the Holy Spirit.

For the coming year, let us all pray for the gift of “listening” and count(reckon) on the Holy Spirit to use this gift in us.

As was said earlier, we can’t always stop and pray formally for right responses, but we can breathe instant prayers and perhaps there are times when we sense that the person talking would like us to pray aloud right then and there for their need.

Let us all be open to the Holy Spirit’s leading through the day as we listen to other’s conversations, problems and needs.                 

LDis

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