Tag: What the Bible says about knowing when to speak and when to be silent

James 1:19 (NKJV) 19 So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.

Swift to hear…

Listening to what is going on around us is crucial in our daily walk with God. There is so much we can hear and discern when we  listen. Slow down enough so we can hear.

Don’t be so busy and caught up in things that our ears are stopped up. A lot of good choices and decisions come from listening.

Slow to speak…

Why do some feel like they have to always be talking? They never stop. They might even talk in their sleep if they could.

Why is that?

They want to be heard. They want to be the center of attention. They think what they have to say is so important that everyone wants to hear it.

Those are the very people who never let you finish what you have to say. They interrupt you, and you never get out what you started to say. A lot of it comes from being self-absorbed.

And then there is slow to wrath…

Anger is one thing that can stop any relationship. It can put a damper on what could be a beautiful and healthy relationship.

No one wants to be around a hot-tempered person. It’s uncomfortable and makes us feel like we have to walk on pins and needles.

It also feels very controlling. You feel like if you don’t do or say what they want or the way they want, you have to listen to them go off.

We need to examine our own selves today, and if we fit into these categories, we need to ask the Holy Spirit to help us temper ourselves and teach us how to handle our responses better.

We need His help to be considerate in our hearing, talking and responding.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
49 N Lamplighters Walk
Hampstead, NC 28443

401-439-3780

Proverbs 29:11 (NKJV) 11 A fool vents all his feelings, But a wise man holds them back.

Sometimes our emotions can get the best of us and we just open our mouths and blurt out what we’re feeling. This is especially true when we’re angry.

Some people have a harder time than others with this. If we’re not one of those people, we may know someone who is.

Many times, this is due to our personality type. A more outspoken person is likely to be the one who readily airs their feelings or anger when something riles them up.

This isn’t always wrong, but it can lead to problems if we don’t allow the Holy Spirit to teach us when to speak and when to be silent.

James warns us about this in the following verse.

James 1:19 (NLT) 19 Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.

So, it is imperative that we allow God to teach us when we should speak and when we should be silent.

Sometimes we need to be silent. And that’s the end of it.

Other times we need to be silent for a time, allowing us to better understand certain things before we speak. And then we speak slowly, using wisdom to be sure that we don’t say things or use tones that cause harm or incite anger in others.

It’s a delicate balancing act that can be difficult to learn. But God is faithful to teach us as we are faithful to listen to Him.

Ecclesiastes 3:7 (NKJV) 7 A time to tear, And a time to sew; A time to keep silence, And a time to speak;

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
49 N Lamplighters Walk
Hampstead, NC 28443

401-439-3780

James 1:19 (NKJV) 19 So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath…

Words are many.

We all speak. We all have things to say. Some more than others.

But it’s important to understand that we learn so much more by listening than we do by speaking.

There are times when it is required that we speak. So, when that is the case, let us be careful with the words that we speak.

Let us not speak simply because there is an opportunity to do so. Let us use wisdom and discernment, so as to be careful to speak the words that God would have us to speak.

Speaking swiftly is not always the best practice. Nor is speaking out of anger or frustration.

Let us contemplate our words and the consequences of them. For the things that we say can never be retracted, nor can the effects or repercussions of those words be easily undone.

Do we wish to be wise? Let us learn to listen and discern. And then let us speak gracefully, with patience and Holy Spirit-led timing and understanding.

And, most of all, let us hear! For without hearing, we will never grow.

Ecclesiastes 3:7 (NKJV) 7 … A time to keep silence, And a time to speak…

God, we ask you to help us to know when to speak and when to be silent. Amen

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
49 N Lamplighters Walk
Hampstead, NC 28443

401-439-3780

Job 6:24 (NKJV) 24 “Teach me, and I will hold my tongue; Cause me to understand wherein I have erred.

Sometimes we don’t like to hold our tongue. It takes discipline. It takes knowing we don’t always have to get in the last word. It takes humbling ourselves and quietly walking away.

We all have moments when we are not going to keep silent. We just want to say what we have built up inside. This could cause problems if we all just walked around saying whatever we wanted, whenever we wanted.

God knows the timing of speaking things and when our words will be effective. Let Him teach us and guide our words that they may bring life, joy, wisdom and encouragement to those around us.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808

401-315-0902

If you know someone who will enjoy this or be encouraged by it, please feel free to share it with them!