Gentle Answers
Proverbs 15:1 Showing restraint and courtesy when answering questions is a perfect way to avoid arguments
“A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare.”
Proverbs 15:1 NLT
A short devotional for today, looking at a Proverb that can stop fights before they start — if you take it to heart and engrave it into your mind.
Many people who know me now say I’m a pretty mellow guy. However, there have been times in my life when someone asking me a simple question would get a quick and nasty response. It was even worse if the question was asked in anger! This happened with a lot of people; coworkers, friends, total strangers, and even my wife of nearly 44 years, Barb.
There were quite a few times in our early (and later) marriage when even a perfectly innocent question would trigger me to respond with anger and start a shouting match that solved nothing. Likewise, when I was under a lot of stress at work, someone asking me “Excuse me, Steve, but do you have a moment?” would get a “Does it LOOK like I have a moment? What the #(&(#! do you want?” snarled in return. That usually resulted in a full-fledged disagreement…
Thank God that for the most part, that tendency to answer with harsh words is gone. I am much more patient with people, even when they’re short with me. I can’t help but think that years of reading and studying God’s Word has helped. It’s as if digging into the Bible every day is re-programming my mind and soul to be a much more loving person. Being gentle in speech to everyone you meet is “loving your neighbor” in action.
Heaven On Wheels Daily Prayer:
Lord, I pray that I may always use a godly and gracious tone of voice to speak to others. Help me to respond to the words of my fellow humans in a way that does not promote anger, and melt any bitterness with a gentle answer. May my words be encouraging and life-affirming to people, and may I never crush the spirits of another person through thoughtless and angry speech. Give me the wisdom to reflect the gracious words of our Lord Jesus in everything I say, AMEN.