Sunday, September 16, 2018

"The Wisdom of Being Quiet"


Reflections4Life September 16, 2018
“The Wisdom of Being Quiet”
Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind.” Ecclesiastes 4:6
Scripture Contemplation: Job 34; Job 40; Proverbs 17; Ecclesiastes 7; James 4
©Ruthe McDonald.

You will continue to suffer if you have an emotional reaction to everything that is said to you. True Power is sitting back and observing things with logic. True power is restraint. If words control you that means that everyone else can control you. Breathe and allow things to pass.” Warrant Buffett
We can often allow our emotions to get the best of us; wanting our side to be heard and understood, which can cause further hurt, pain, and confusion. Sometimes we have to reel back our hurt emotions and be quiet. There is wisdom in being quiet. However, it may seem like disrespect or shutting a person down, it is not. It takes two to tango, two to have an argument that can quickly escalate where words said, cannot be taken back. Or the misinterpretation of what is being said and its intent, leading to hurt feelings and possibly the destruction of a relationship.
I decree that this week’s Reflections will be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart mind and soul. Meditate on the word of God this week. Ask the Father to show you your heart, your thoughts, your weaknesses, and strength. Allow His words to season your mouth and be a guard over your tongue. Take a moment before speaking, and assess what you are going to say. Know that, sometimes, being quiet is the best thing you could do in certain situations.
Do you want to be Happy or Right?
James 4:1 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?
Why can we not be both?—is the question most of us would probably ask. Why cannot I be happy and right? It is my life and my right, after all. Sure, you can be both, but when you are in the middle of an argument with someone and both parties feel they are right, do you continue to argue until you both are unhappy and in the worst state of being? Or, do you take the option of acquiescing and deciding you’d rather have peace than to stress your point of view?
It is a normal part of our human nature that fights to be heard, accepted, and believed. We find ourselves in escalated arguments wondering how we got there and felt miserable after getting there. At this point, the argument is not really about who is right or wrong (both people can be right), the argument is now more about power. Or, a power struggle. Neither person wanting to give in because now emotions are on the line and egos are in the way, and common sense has taken a flight, while Holy Spirit has gone quiet because our flesh has taken over, as God-sense also flies out the window.
Nine times out of ten, we do not even realize when or how the enemy snuck his way in and began whispering in our ears, which sounds like our inner thoughts. We end up saying things we do not mean, taking offense to things that normally would roll right off the back, and emotions stirred up, that we are blinded by the anger that has crept up, causing more trouble, hurt, and pain. Instead of taking a step back, pride takes a step in.
Beloved, this is not what God intended for us in our relationships. This is not how we, children of God, should allow things in our life to escalate. If someone is saying something, you do not agree with or thinking something about you, you do not have to react to it. Yes, it may hurt and bother you—let that be between you and God. Do not allow it to take you out of character and stir you up so emotionally that you fight, at all costs, to be right. At the end, who really wins? No one. Nine times out of ten, when you make the decision to be quiet and not engage in a war of words and stop yourself from reacting emotionally, you will find out how fast a situation can deescalate and how much hurt and pain can be avoided. Do not ignore Holy Spirit when He is telling you to be quiet!
Words Can Be Powerful & Deadly Weapons
Proverbs 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.
James 3:8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
Being quiet can save many lives and relationships, also. We often forget how powerful the words are that come from our mouths; whether intentional or not. In the power of our tongue are death and life. We have the power to kill and destroy or to make live. We can kill people’s self-esteem, hopes, dreams, visions, relationships, marriages, families, employment—all from the words, we may speak.
We also have the power to change lives for the better. To inspire. To bring life, hope, love, acceptance, strength, and peace. We can speak a word of life into our relationships, our marriages, our hopes, dreams, and visions. We can be encouraging, inspiring, and spark a fire that spreads so wide and far that happiness becomes like breathing.
We need God to be a guard over our tongue; a watch over our mouths, and to check us when we are in our emotions. Our emotions can get us into a whole lot of trouble when we are not in accord with the Holy Spirit, or, are easily offended. Our tongues become poison swords, striking out at anyone within our circumference. Bringing damage and extreme hurt and pain in the hearts minds and souls of those we say we love.
Beloveds, it is not God or of God when we get to a place of yelling, screaming, and talking over one another to the point we are being rude and disrespectful. Hurt people hurt people. Something inside of us feels like we have to defend ourselves. This is the exact point where we need to be quiet, stay quiet, and truly reflect on what is happening, without blaming the other person, but taking accountability and responsibility for our part in the situation. At the end of the day, it is a power struggle. But the power struggle is not between you and the other party, it is between you and God. You and Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit is telling us to be quiet and pray, while our flesh is saying, no, we have to defend ourselves, not realizing that God is our best defense and that the whole truth of the matter is, the enemy found an opening and slid in.
Beloveds, may the spirit of peace and prosperity finds permanent rest in your lives. I decree that every good thing that God has ordained for your life will become evident to you. We have to get quiet, recognize the enemy, and allow God to be a guard over our mouths and to fight the battle for us, as we humbly acquiesce to His will; even if that means apologizing, even if you feel you are right. Because at this point, it is not about being right but about allowing God to be in charge and setting things right once more before you forget the love and all the good things that exist in spite of the bumps in the road. You are blessed. Now go…and be a blessing.
©2018. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.

1 comment:

Unknown said...

Amen
James 3:
2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

May we strive for such a perfection.