#gentle answer

Devotional for March 10

A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare. - Proverbs 15:1

Insight

Have you ever tried to argue in a whisper? It is equally hard to argue with someone who insists on answering gently. On the other hand, a rising voice and harsh words almost always trigger an angry response.

Challenge

To turn away wrath and seek peace, choose gentle words.

“A gentle answer turns away wrath,But a harsh word stirs up anger.The tongue of the wise makes knowledge pleasant,But the mouth of fools spouts foolishness.” “The eyes of the Lord are in every place,Watching the evil and the good.A soothing tongue is a tree of life,But perversion in it crushes the spirit.” “A fool rejects his father’s discipline,But one who complies with rebuke is…

Friday, 3/3/23

SCRIPTURE:

A gentle answer turns away wrath,  but a harsh word stirs up anger.   ~ Proverbs 15:1

OBSERVATION:

I find myself biting my tongue many times...

...but how often do I find myself getting "stirred up" when I don't get the "gentle answer" I expect?

That "gentle answer" may turn away the wrath of the other, but more importantly, turns away the Wrath of God in response to my selfish need to be right, my failure to show love as Jesus did...

And what about the anger I might (that I do), stir in the Lord - let alone others - who care for and about someone I might speak harshly to or about? Sort of a "collateral damage" thing...

...let alone the feelings I rile up in myself?

Does blasting a "harsh word" really make me feel better overall? In traffic...slamming down the phone at work... pounding the keys replying to an e-mail... muttering under my breath as I walk away from an opportunity to provide a "gentle answer..."?

APPLICATION:

Don't give the enemy a wedge to use between my witness and others...

...or to beat myself up with about my failures and mistakes...

Don't react to harsh words with harsh words...

Look for the gentle - but right and Word-based - answer, especially in tough conversations and situations (including traffic...)

PRAYER:

Patient Heavenly Father - forgive the failures of my heart that reveal themselves through my tongue - May Your Holy Spirit stop my kneejerk reaction to lash out in reply or to misinterpret things said by others, but instead lead me to pause in Your grace and Jesus's examples to find the appropriate, gentle word to build others up instead of tear them down to make myself look taller... In Jesus's Name, and for Your recognition and worshipful praise...

Enjoy your weekend... and lemme know, you know, if there's anything boing on with you and yours that you want me to know about... ya know...

Joyfully thankful for you... because of Him...

g

<))><

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If I may, two other things came to mind during the drive in this morning...

Along with "harsh words" you can add:

Heavy sighs...

Rolled eyes... (or just "dirty looks" in general...)

And along with "gentle answers" come:

Warm greetings - kind of a "preemptive strike" as it were...

Genuine smiles...

In other words... kindness...

g

The Counter Culture of Gentleness in an Angry World

The Bible verse of the day today in the YouVersion app is from Proverbs 15:1:

“A soft [gentle][1] answer turns away wrath.”

I try to read Scripture every day. I have a reading plan (reading through the Bible chronologically this year), and I usually read the Scripture of the day. Every once in a while, the Scripture I am reading for the day comes up that day in another context.

Today is…

VOTD December 30 - “A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭15:1‬ ‭NASB‬‬

VOTD December 30

“A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.”

Proverbs 15:1 NASB

https://www.courageouschristianfather.com/proverbs-15/

Stinky feet The #authorityofJesus gave Him unlimited power, but His #divinehumility gave Him additional #power.

“Now, if I were in charge…!”

Ever had that thought?  ‘Fess up, because who hasn’t.  And not just about the government, but the media, the job, or even the church…(c’mon, Someone bigger than me is reading your thoughts.)

It’s been said that absolute authority corrupts absolutely.  I’m sure that’s probably true in a human sense and, although I’ve never had absolute authority, I know what I messes…