Proverbs 15: 28
The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out wicked things.
I know that every time I just blurt out something to someone, it's been the wrong thing to say at the time. Even when the words themselves were true, they were spoken in the wrong way at the wrong time, which makes them wrong. If only I had paused to think about what to say, then I could have avoided the humiliation of apologizing, and the sticky mess of making things right between us again.
I need rather to be able to listen to what the other person is saying, to hear the passion of their heart, instead of just letting them go on while I'm formulating my answer. Even when they say something that triggers a reaction in me, especially then I need to pause and listen to what else they say. Then I will be able to let Christ speak to them through me, while I express His compassion and tenderness to them.
O my Father, I pray that You would put Your arm around my shoulders and Your hand over my mouth whenever I am in conversation with those who don't know You yet, so that I may be Christ to them. For I may be the only Jesus they have encountered in their life.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
