YOU HAVE THE POWER

I've been doing the 'True Woman Make-Over" and found the following quote that was an encouragement to me in how to handle situations when we are with others who speak slander/gossip or harsh words about someone else. Or if we find ourselves in a situation where we have used our own tongue as a weapon instead of an instrument of peace. Our tongues are often used as instrument that hurt instead of edification. We need to learn to always speak words of kindness and words of encouragement. Not just to those in our church and friends, but also in our homes, or especially in our homes.

Read Proverbs 31:26 and make it a tool to help you become a better daughter of the King of Kings.

"When she speaks,

her words are wise,

and she gives instructions

with kindness."

Here is the quote:

I quoted several sessions ago a passage about Sarah Edwards, who was the mother of eleven and the wife of Jonathan Edwards-who was a leader in the First Great Awakening. This writer says that, "Sarah made it her rule to speak well of all so far as she could, with truth and justice to herself and others. She was not prone to dwell with delight on the imperfections and failings of any, and when she heard other people speaking ill of others, she would say what she thought she could with truth and justice in their excuse or divert the slander by mentioning those things that were commendable in them."In other words, if she heard somebody saying something unkind about someone else, she would try and change the conversation or divert the conversation or to say something encouraging about that person."Thus, she was careful of everyone's character, even of those who injured and spoke evil of her. She could bear injuries and reproach with great calmness, without any disposition to render evil for evil, but on the contrary, she was ready to pity and forgive those who appeared to be her enemies."

What a commitment-to speak well of all! That's what the Scripture says we should do. In fact, Proverbs tells us that if you are the kind of woman who is contentious and critical with your tongue, that you will drive your family to the place where they would rather live on the roof or in an attic or out in a desert by themselves than to live in the same house with you.


If you would like to listen to or read the entire message log onto reviveourhearts.com and find March 9th, 2007 message from Nancy Leigh DeMosses series on the Counter-Cultural Woman.