Knowing When To Speak and When To Be Silent

 WHEN TO SPEAK AND WHEN TO BE SILENT

How many times have people wiser than us tried to give us good advice that we ignored and looking back wish we’d recognized and heeded?  Sometimes the moment was just wrong or the way the message was shared wasn’t suited to where we were at. 

As we share the message of life with God with others, we need to pray for wisdom to know when to speak and when to simply pray and leave people until they are ready to hear what’s helpful.

Never correct conceited people; they will hate you for it. But if you correct the wise, they will respect you. Anything you say to the wise will make them wiser. Whatever you tell the righteous will add to their knowledge. 

Proverbs 9:8-9

It's a good idea to share in a measured way and watch for a reaction from those we are speaking with. We may not agree with everything someone says but we don’t always need to confront it.  Silence has its place.  Every conversation can lead us to a conversation with God and He will show us when and what we are to say.

The right word at the right time is like precious gold set in silver.

Proverbs 25:11

It makes a lot of sense to be a person of few words and to stay calm.

Proverbs 17:27

On the flip side, when we are with people who are longing to hear about hope, we need to honour God by telling the story of His work in us that has given us life and hope.  We need to simply share what effect responding to God’s word or rejecting it had in our own lives.  We are a witness not a judge.  We are to be those with stories of hope and comfort.  God’s Holy Spirit will do the rest.

Loving God, You are the God who changes us from the inside out and makes an amazing difference to our daily living when we do it with You.  Thank You for coming to live in us and giving us a life that is worth sharing about with others.

We want to be wise in what we say and how we share so people are attracted to what is true rather than avoiding it.  Help us to be wise and know when to speak and when to listen with respectful silence.  Please open up opportunities for us to share Your Good News and, as we open our mouth, fill them with Your words of hope.  Amen

So ask God for opportunities to share today and see what He opens up for you.  You might just be surprised!!