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PUBLISHED ON JUNE 20, 2022
– by Gabriel Agboeze
A soft answer turns away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. The tongue of the wise uses knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools pours out foolishness. Proverbs 15: 1-2 KJV
Have you suffered from transfer of aggression? Have someone reacted harshly to you because of how offended they were? Have you said wrong words because of provocations? These are few reactions we get or serve others ourselves because of how hurting we might be at a particular moment. It’s difficult to say the right words in the midst of provocation or heated argument but it is right to always watch what we say whenever we’re pushed to the walls. Some things are better left unsaid while some people should be completely avoided. A soft answer turns wrath away, it makes anger quench. When you speak wisely anger is arrested. If you’re dealing with people that won’t learn or accept their wrong don’t bother speaking to them, because you’ll end up magnifying the provocation. If someone is teachable, you should decide when to correct them, some corrections made in anger carry less impact. When you’re more balanced you can speak and still pass your message without being misunderstood.
According to 1 Samuel 25, a certain man named Nabal who was harsh and cruel in his dealings acted foolishly and used the wrong words to reply to David after David sent his men to him to ask for bread and water to feed his men. His words brought him to his grave untimely. David by his sword would have killed Nabal and all his households but for his wife Abigail who saved the day and spoke to David in kind words and pleaded with him to have mercy and let the Lord avenge his cause. Not too long, the Lord smote Nabal after ten days and he died. Harsh words can cause more harm than you can imagine. If you feel irritated and angered, it is better to keep quiet than to say things that you can’t take back and regret afterwards. Nabal spoke foolishly, but Abigail spoke wisely to David, who paid attention and halted his plan to avenge his cause. If David wasn’t teachable it would have been difficult for him to listen.
Today’s thought: “soft words display understanding and quenches confusion and anger.”
Keynote: Calm and wise words bring peace but harsh words bring troubles and hurt.
Counsel: Be calculative in your speech, don’t say everything that you feel. If it’s not right, hold it back until it’s right to say it.
Prayer: I receive the grace to control myself in the midst of provocations in the name of Jesus. May offenses never expose me to sin in Jesus’ name. Receive the right words for every situation and may your responses towards any development be good in Jesus’ name. No more careless speaking! Your words will never hurt your life in Jesus’ name, amen.
