Here are a few thoughts worth carrying this week.
1 – On Following Your Heart
Our hearts are too important to ignore. The world’s advice is to follow your heart, but before we follow ours, we must instruct it. Left to itself, our heart won’t follow God. Here’s how:
Proverbs 2:1–2 — receive my words, hide my commandments, incline thine ear, apply thine heart.
Proverbs 4:20–23 — attend to my words, keep them “in the midst of thine heart,” then “keep thy heart with all diligence.”
Proverbs 15:28 — the righteous heart “studieth” how to answer.
Proverbs 16:23 — the wise heart actually “teacheth” the mouth.
What I’m carrying:
Don’t blindly follow your heart; allow God’s wisdom to first form it.
2 – On the Impact of Words
Words are powerful. Their impact can leave a ripple effect that goes on for years. A child who’s constantly told they are a problem or worthless may stop taking those words as criticism and begin to think that’s who they really are. On the other hand, pleasant words can build confidence and help shape a healthy understanding of who they are.
The conversation may end, but the effect of our words may not. Children may be the clearest example, but all of us carry words people have spoken to us.
“Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.”
— Proverbs 16:24“...that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.”
— Ephesians 4:29
What I’m carrying:
What will my words leave behind in the person who hears them?
3– On Anger
The space between anger and action is where wisdom does its work—or folly does its damage.
One word that would have saved a lot of damage in relationships is “deferreth.” It carries the idea of delaying or postponing a response. How often have we seen people become angry and make foolish decisions that end up costing them money, embarrassment, or even time in prison?
“The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.”
— Proverbs 19:11
What I’m carrying:
Give wisdom time to work before you act.
Thanks for reading. If something here is worth carrying into your week, I’d love to hear what it is.
— Brad
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