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Weekly Wisdom Winnows
by Lisa Mendenhall
I was talking to one of my friends the other day about her grandaughter. She was telling me how Cami was not able to be quiet for liteally 15 seconds!(They timed her while trying to teach her the quiet game!)
It reminded me of what I have been thinking and meditating on lately. "Practicing the Art of Silence!" I realized recently that my chldren(grown) and my husband has had to say to me alot lately, "if you will just let me finish what I was saying......" I am bad about jumping in and saying what is on my mind before they ever finish what they are trying to get across and most of the time it is something negative or un-uplifting coming out of my mouth! When you hear "please let me finish" more than a couple of times a month, it is time to SHUT UP, PAY ATTENTION, and PRACTICE being s-l-o-w to speak.
Psalm 141:3 Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips.
Proverbs 13:3 He who guards his mouth preserves his life, but he who opens wide his lips shall have distruction.
Proverbs 21:23 Whosoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from troubles.
James 3:2 For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, also able to bridle the whole body.
Talking to my friend reminded me that a lot of us are just like her 4 year old grandaughter. What ever comes to our mind, comes out our mouth without any thought to what we are saying, how we are saying it or to whom we are saying it. We do not take account of the consequences of how are words will affect others or even ourselves. The fact is we are not 4 year old children, we are grown and mature. We should have enough of God's temperance working in us to be able to control our impluses to say what is on our mind. Especially before we stop and think first. The thing is most people really don't care what your opinion is and really just want you to care about them enough to listen withouth putting your two cents worth in every other breath! I am encouraging you to join me this week in "Practicing the art of silence"!
One more note; It is in this quiet place that the Lord has free reign to talk to you and lead and guide you. I heard this saying once and it still holds true today. Lord, here sits a fool doing all the talking to the one who knows everything and has all the answers. I need to shut up and listen to the one who has all the answers! Be blessed Lisa
Rate it:
'To separate the chaff from (grain) by means of a current of air. To rid of undesirable parts. To separate or get rid of (an undesirable part); eliminate: winnowing out the errors in logic. ...separate grain from chaff...separate the good from the bad...examine closely in order to separate the good from the bad; sift...' (www.dictionary.com) 'This study gave me direction and focus for my teaching. God had placed a longing in my heart to teach the body of Christ how to separate from carnal thinking and rid themselves of old ways that hinder their Spiritual growth. I desire to see them live victoriously, by the 'higher ways' of God's wisdom.'
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