Proverbs 15:23 – Everyone enjoys giving great advice. But how delightful it is to say the right thing at the right time!
“If I were you….” How many of you have received advice that began with those words?
Sometimes the advice given was welcoming and helpful. Other times, it could be off the mark and cause more confusion than clarity for us.
This is especially true if the person giving the advice really doesn’t understand your situation since they haven’t gone through what you're going through.
A very good friend of mine that I work with in ministry has a saying, “people’s opinions are like elbows…everyone has one!” It sounds funny, but advice from folks (myself included) can be just like that too!
The verse in Proverbs 15:23 made me think about how often have I received or been quick to give advice. How much of that advice was what I or the other person needed to hear in that moment?
Although it's great for us to want to be helpful and offer advice to someone, it's important that we not lean to our own understanding.
It will be more helpful and delightful to that person for us to be quick to listen to them first. Then ask the Lord to help you say the right thing, at the right time.
Be encouraged!
Stephanie
Prayer: Father, I ask that you help me today to say the right words at the right time to someone that needs it, in Jesus' Name! Amen
For more wisdom on how we should speak, check out the Winsome Word of Wisdom post on "Gracious Speech".
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