July 18 Devotion - The Power of the Tongue

Better is a dry morsel with quietness, than a house full of feasting with strife. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.

لقمة يابسة ومعها سلامة خير من بيت ملآن ذبائح مع خصام. الموت والحياة في يد اللسان واحباؤه ياكلون ثمره. اذا يا اخوتي الاحباء ليكن كل انسان مسرعا في الاستماع مبطئا في التكلم مبطئا في الغضب.

Proverbs 17:1

Proverbs 18

James 1:19

Through God’s word we learn that a home full of quietness and peace are much better than a house loaded with feasting but full of arguments and conflict.

Peace between people requires establishing mutual trust. Trust is built through listening and understanding - not necessarily agreeing with the other person. Listening without judging is necessary.

A useful focus to aim for when listening to another person is to try to understand him/her, how the other person feels, and to discover what the other person wants to achieve.

The late Dr. Stephen Covey ( 'The Seven Habits Of Highly Effective People'® ) is one of many modern advocates who urge us to strive deeply to understand the other person's point of view through empathic listening (also called active listening or reflective listening).

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, thank You for Your unfailing, inseparable, deep and everlasting love for me, Your abundant blessings in my life, and for the riches of Your grace upon my life. Lord, I praise You, glorify You, and lift You up on high and I pray that out of Your glorious riches You strengthen me with power through Your Spirit in my inner being, so that I can listen with empathy and understanding. Help me to help others, not judge them, and to be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath. Help me to control what I say and purify what I think.  Keep me away from any strife Lord. I declare Jesus as my Lord and Saviour and I pray in His Holy Name. To Him be the power, the glory, the majesty, the blessings, and the dominion forever and ever, Amen.

Jesus loves you,

In Him,

Wagdi Henein