Proverbs 15:1 says: “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” Wow, talk about practical. Let’s say someone says something harsh to you. Perhaps it happens in person, but maybe it happens online. Either way, your instinct is to react. You want to say some things that are probably not … Continue reading The 24-hour rule
relationships
A friend loves at all times
The biblical book of Proverbs has a lot to say about friendship. Here’s another: “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity” (Proverbs 17:17). Let’s flush out the meaning. True friends are there for you at all times, including the ups and downs. This is a warning … Continue reading A friend loves at all times
Wounds from a friend
Twitter (aka “X”) didn’t exist in biblical times. If it did, the proverbs would be posted frequently. They are short and to-the-point. They communicate eternal truths in memorable, bite-sized chunks. Proverbs 27:6 says: “Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.” What does it mean? It starts by speaking about wounds. … Continue reading Wounds from a friend
The company you keep
We’re spending some time looking at the most famous proverbs. Here’s Proverbs 13:20: “Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.” ‘Walking with the wise’ refers to spending time with people who are wise. In contrast, being ‘a companion of fools’ means spending time with foolish people. The first … Continue reading The company you keep
How do you spell love?
I once heard someone ask, “How do you spell love?” Seems simple, doesn’t it? L-O-V-E. “No,” they said. “You spell it T-I-M-E.”* Technically you don’t spell love like that. But they were obviously making a point: One way you can give someone your love is to give them your time. It’s a powerful message in … Continue reading How do you spell love?
Blind to our own blind spots
“Hey there, old buddy old pal! How are you today? Would you mind giving me some criticism? What about some constructive-but-very-honest feedback about what I could do to improve myself?” Okay, you’re right. Conversations don’t usually start that way. In fact, we tend to dislike criticism or feedback about how we can “improve ourselves.” Not … Continue reading Blind to our own blind spots
With many advisers they succeed
We’re focusing a few devotionals on hearing (or discerning) the voice of God in our lives. You hear God’s voice by seeking God’s voice. In addition to saturating yourself with Scripture, and to spending time in prayer, a third habit of discernment is counsel. This has to do with seeking the counsel of other godly … Continue reading With many advisers they succeed
Born blamers
Relationships can be hard. They can be hard on a good day, let alone a bad one. I doubt there’s a person on earth who hasn’t put their foot in their mouth, said something they regret, or did something they wish they could undo. Yup, relationships are hard. So let’s not make them harder than … Continue reading Born blamers
Lovingly disagreeing
Maybe you’ve never thought of it like this before, but one of the ways you can contribute to a more thoughtful and respectful world is to learn how to lovingly disagree with someone. That’s right. Disagree with someone. Lovingly. Pastor and writer Rick Warren has expressed how we, as a society, seem to have lost … Continue reading Lovingly disagreeing
Rushing to conclusions
Jesus said “Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment” (John 7:24, ESV). We know we’re not supposed to judge by appearances. We might struggle with it sometimes, but we know it makes sense. Never judge a book by its cover, right? Well, the same goes for people. Jesus’ statement comes on the … Continue reading Rushing to conclusions
