Trouble With Words - The One Year Wisdom for Women Devotional

An evil man is trapped by his sinful talk,but a righteous man escapes trouble.

Proverbs 12:13 (NIV)

Second Thessalonians 1:6 says, “God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you” (NIV).

I’m reading a book called The Leadership Secrets of Billy Graham by Harold Myra and Marshall Shelley. Chapter 5 is titled “Loving Harsh Critics.” Here’s an excerpt. “All leaders get criticized. It’s their response to criticism that sets them apart.” When unfairly, untruthfully attacked, this was Billy Graham’s response: “By God’s grace I shall continue to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and not stoop to mudslinging, name-calling, and petty little fights over nonessentials.” Good job, Billy Graham.

Winston Churchill said, “By swallowing evil words unsaid, no one has ever harmed his stomach.” Yes, Winston, “A righteous man escapes trouble.”

So for us as women, let’s also not get pulled into petty little fights. If someone has said something harsh or untrue about you, kick it to the curb. That’s my new favorite visual and saying—“just kick it to the curb” and move on.

Recently I found myself really upset over some unkind things said about me. It hurt. It hurt to know that others listened. I’d be dishonest if I said that I didn’t think of a few hurtful things to say back. But then I thought, That is just not how I want to use my energy. It doesn’t honor God, it doesn’t feel good once it’s said, and, well, it’s just bad business. So I decided to kick it to the curb, give it to God, and move on.

Make It Personal . . . Live It Out!

What if you are the one who has said something you know is wrong and hurtful? We all need to learn a very old and helpful skill called the apology. Here are the basics. You need to take responsibility without blaming. You need to make your apology sincere and simple. And you need to say, “I’m sorry,” and mean it. Will you do it? Will you do it today?

The first to apologize is the bravest. The first to forgive is the strongest. The first to forget is the happiest.

—AUTHOR UNKNOWN

One Year Bible Reading

Deuteronomy 23:1–25:19; Luke 10:13-37; Psalm 75:1-10; Proverbs 12:12-14