He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,
and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth. (Isaiah 53:7)
The past few months have been a roller coaster ride for me. I started blogging, met and made wonderful new friends. Did my first series on the blog. Turned the series into an Ebook, then published it. And launched the book By God’s grace. It has been one ride: lots of mistakes, lots of lessons learnt.
One of those lessons that I have learnt and failed miserably at is the Grace of silence. Especially in the face of negative people, criticism and continuous setbacks. I look at Jesus the perfecter of my faith when He was being unfairly tried because of my sins and I fall down to repent and surrender. Because in all honesty, I doubt my ‘trials and tribulations’ are anything close to what my Lord suffered. So I pray, and practice the grace of silence
There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. | Proverbs 12:18
The easy route of vengeance and rashing out is one I have many a times traveled on: regrettably so.
So I pray for myself and for those like me who are tempted and fall into the temptation of self defence using the tongue. For those like me who are not able to confront the negative, jealous, critics in their lives and so they turn to family and friends for ‘debrief sessions’ which are for all intents and purposes gossips parties. And I ask that the Father would help me and help us to walk in the path of our Lord. To know, to live and to practice the grace of silence.
Prayer:
Father, you know me all too well. You know my weakness especially when it comes to my tongue. Father, would you please have mercy on me for the numerous occasions I have let you down by not practicing the grace of silence. Help me Father to bring this little member of my body, the tongue, that has been known to bring you both honor and reproach. Have mercy upon me Father. Teach me by the Holy Spirit to be silence and graciously silent while at it. In Jesus Name I pray. AMEN
One comment
Prince Hanniel
July 22, 2017 at 12:14 PM
We just finished going through Matthew in our family devotion. One thing stood out during the trial of Jesus – he kept quiet.
He could have argued his case, he could have silenced his accusers with a few words… I mean he was brilliant and classic when he did it, but for this one time he kept mum – so that mums ( and dads and kids) all over would be saved.
The grace of Silence