Thursday, July 29, 2021

Listening & Speaking

God gave you two ears and one mouth for a very good reason. This is because the ability to listen is an essential life skill. When I was growing up, my mother would often rebuke me by saying, “Listen to yourself.” This was because I was going on and on about something, and as we often say, running at the mouth. A few times, mother would even quote the words of King Solomon, who said, “Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in Heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few” (Ecclesiastes 5:2).

Sometimes, it is good to stop and listen to ourselves to realize how others are hearing us. If we do this, we can judge what we say before the Lord and often find that it is better not said at all. This exercise can spare us from many an embarrassment and, even more importantly, from saying things that will hurt or discourage others.

Here is a check list you can run through before you speak:

• Think about what you are about to say.

• Check your own heart as to the matter.

• Control your tongue — Guard your lips and speak kindly.

And then we can pray, like David, “Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips” (Psalm 141:3).