Proverbs 18: A Steering Wheel for Our Lives
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One after another, chatty teens spread out over the sticky vinyl cushions. Roller coasters clanked and screams whirred through the wind as we turned the key and threw the lines onto the dock. Hooking the tow-line to the tube, my husband’s face suddenly became distressed.
A Bible study leader once introduced a study asking the participants not to give advice, but to keep conversation focused on the truth of God’s Word. In a world full of opinions, it’s awfully hard as of late to decipher what is true. To sort through opinion versus truth, we rely on the only Truth we know is unshakeable – the Living Word of God. The ancient text inspired by God is rock solid truth relevant to every area of our modern life.
Scripture reminds us over and over how powerful the tongues is, and how big an impact our words make. As we guard our hearts from what we hear, we have God’s Word as a truth filter. When we are asked for advice, let us slow to let the Spirit help us remember the truth we have watered in our souls to share in love with others.
Gossip, slander, and condemnation are not behaviors modeled to us by Christ Jesus. Yet, we often let our insecurities entertain and divulge in gossip, slander, and condemnation of others – and even ourselves. Each person on this earth has been beautifully and carefully created by the hand of God and given a purpose only they can walk out in this life. When we look at others, let us pray to see them through the filter of their, and our, Creator.
Our enemy aims to fill our filters with lies, and his goal is to kill, steal and destroy. But God created us to be relational. When we choose to gossip, or entertain it, Scripture says it goes down to the inmost parts. It has more of an effect on us than we visibly see and consciously understand. We can pray each day for God to search our hearts, and cleanse us from hidden sin. When we gossip, we can confess it immediately. We are called to defend those who cannot defend themselves. Gossip can be answered by a compliment towards the victim being talked about – a different perspective.
When I first started to study Scripture, I prayed for humility. The small group Bible study I was a part of at the time snickered and laughed a bit. When I asked why, one answered,
“Oh, He’ll humble you, all right. And it hurts!”
She was absolutely right! Often, the things we lack humility in and towards don’t hit our radar. We think we’re doing alright, until God brings an ugliness to the surface we didn’t see before we asked Him to reveal it! Some lack of humility is obvious, but others are not. When we prayerfully practice humility, we trust God will be honored by our lives. He will provide and care for us as we learn to live out His will and purpose for our lives.
There are so many rich lessons in Psalm 18. Click here to read it in full, and prayerfully ask the Lord to cleanse our hearts and steer us by the Truth of His Word and will for our lives.
More from this author
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A Comforting Reminder: God Listens to Us
God Patiently Walks with Us through Awkward Moments
Related: Listen to Our FREE New Parenting Podcast! Christian Parent/Crazy World with Catherine Segars is now available on LifeAudio.com. You can listen to the first episode by clicking the play button below:
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