Wise Use of Thoughts
How often do you think before you speak?
Verse of the Day
“The heart of the godly thinks carefully before speaking; the mouth of the wicked overflows with evil words.”
Today’s Devotional
There is a joke in my family that I have no filter. I have a tendency to say whatever passes through my mind. Therefore I need verses like this one to remind me of the wisdom of thinking before I speak. And hopefully my family has noticed that over the last few years I have become more careful with what I say.
One of the best ways we can use our minds and the power of thought is to think before we speak. From my own personal experience, I can say that speaking before thinking was due to a lack of self-discipline and usually in the hopes of getting a laugh from my audience. However, God has given us a spirit of self-control. (2 Timothy 1:7) One recurring theme in my studies is that God gives us access to many things, like a self-controlled spirit, that we choose not to use at times.
We, as children of God, need to learn that our words should not come from impulse or reaction. The tool for responding instead of reacting is thought. Thinking before we speak. And for me, this includes prayer. “Father, please help me to only use Your words, not mine. Please give me Your words for this conversation.” These thoughts could also include questions – “How can I answer in a way that is kind? How can I give God the glory with my words? How can I direct this conversation to Jesus? How can I say what needs to be said in a way that is edifying and encouraging? Will my words be unifying or divisive?”
It’s also important to note that the word “evil” in today’s verse does not necessarily mean that we will say bad words or promote sinful behavior. Bibleref.com says it this way: “Unlike the righteous person who ponders an answer before he gives it, the wicked person carelessly pours out words. The term translated “evil” here does not just refer to immorality, but also to disaster and misfortune. Careless answers can mislead others and cause them harm. Like a polluted water source, the person who speaks without thinking pollutes his environment.”
There is an old nursery rhyme that fits here, and that nursery rhyme is absolutely false. Sticks and stones may hurt my bones but words will never hurt me. Words can absolutely hurt. Words spoken, words typed – over text, email, or social media – can be very harmful to others. I would bet that every single person reading this can think of an instance where someone said something hurtful to you. And you remember it. Our goal, then, should be to use the power of thought to keep us from ever being hurtful to another with our words.
Thinking and praying before we speak or respond is powerful. Speaking without thinking is a recipe for disaster. And just like we cannot allow our minds to have free reign, the same is true for our tongues. As we learn to think in a way that is more focused on God and His Kingdom, we will learn to train our tongues to follow suit.
Journal Prompts
Answer only the questions that seem relevant to you today.
How have you been hurt by someone’s words? If this wound still stings, are you willing to pray for God’s help today to forgive that person?
How has speaking before you thought gotten you in trouble?
How have someone’s words encouraged you or built you up?
How can you invite God into your thoughts in order to guide your speech today?