Happy Friday, Friends!
I hope and trust this post finds you all having a great day as a glorious new day begins to dawn in my Sweet Home Alabama!
How is it possible that Monday will be the 1st of November?
Earlier this week, I listened to a phenomenal message by Pastor Joel Osteen. This morning I want to share several excerpts that I got from Sermons.love. You can read the full transcript here: Joel Osteen - The Strength of Silence. Better yet, I want to encourage you to listen to the message titled The Strength of Silence, which you can do here: The Strength of Silence | Joel Osteen Message
- I want to talk to you today about "The Strength of Silence." We live in a day when everyone has something to say. We're quick to give our opinion, quick to respond, and quick to let people know what we think. If they say something we don't like, we need to straighten them out. If a coworker offends us, we're going to let them have it. If a family member says something rude, well, two can play at that game. We let them know how we feel. But just because you have something to say doesn't mean you're supposed to say it. Every offense doesn't deserve your response. Every disagreement doesn't need your opinion. Every person who misunderstands you doesn't have to be convinced to change. There are battles you will never win with more words. Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is say nothing at all.
- It takes strength to stay quiet when you could prove that you're right. You have the perfect thing to say, but no matter how convincing you are, the other person is not going to receive it. The more you talk, the more frustrated you'll get. You're trying to put out the fire, but in fact it's like pouring gasoline on it. Solomon said in Ecclesiastes that there's a time to speak and a time to be silent. I'm not saying never to speak up, never to confront, or never to deal with conflict. But maturity is knowing what time you're in. Is this a time to speak, to be bold, to let your voice be heard? Or is this a time to be silent, to walk away, to let things cool down?
- One of the best ways to protect your peace, protect relationships, and even protect your destiny is to learn the strength of silence. You have every right to say something. The question is, does it need to be said? Is it going to be helpful? Is it going to move things forward? Or is it just going to make you feel good and feed your ego? You've got to have the last word. When someone makes a disrespectful comment, you don't have to answer. If they post something you disagree with, you don't have to correct them. You're not called to straighten everyone out. The Holy Spirit is the one who convicts people. Sometimes we're playing Holy Spirit Junior: "Let me convict you. Let me get you fixed." That's not your assignment. Focus on keeping yourself fixed.
- Here's the key: let go of the need to always be right.
- It's easy to get into conflict and stir things up, but it's hard to bite our tongues. It's hard not to express everything we're thinking: "Give them a piece of my mind. I'm going to tell them what I think." If you keep giving pieces away, you will lose your peace of mind.
- How many relationships would be saved? How much healthier would our marriages be if we learned the strength of silence, that we don't have to defend, debate, or argue?
- Silence is not weakness. Silence is strength under control. Anyone can react. Anyone can blow off steam and say whatever they think. That's easy. It takes a strong person to have something to say and choose not to say it.
- Psalm 39: David had people coming against him, slandering him and trying to ruin his reputation. Under all this pressure, he said in verse 1, "I will keep my tongue from sin. I will put a muzzle on my mouth while in the presence of the ungodly." He was saying, when I'm in difficulties, when people are doing me wrong, and I'm tempted to get upset, I'm going to be careful what I say. He had people lying about him. He was misunderstood. He was hurting. But his first concern wasn't what other people were saying; it was what he was saying.
- One thing my father taught me was that you never go wrong by taking the high road: overlooking an offense, not responding to the negative chatter, keeping the peace when everything in you wants to argue. That's a mark of honor. That's what God rewards.
- David prayed, "God, help me control me." You can't control what other people say, but you can control yourself.
- Here's the principle: don't speak when your thoughts are hot, when you're upset, when your emotions are out of check.
- When emotions are high, wisdom is usually low. When anger arises, common sense usually leaves.
- You're not weak when you're silent. You're smart when you're silent.
- Some battles you're not supposed to fight. They are distractions. That's the enemy trying to get you off course, offended, trying to prove your point. The problem with those battles is there are no spoils. Even if you do win, what has that gained you? If it's not between you and your destiny, it's a distraction.
- See, sometimes we think, "Well, I have a right to say something." But a better question is, do you need to say something? Sure, you have a right to respond, to pay back, to defend. You may have all the facts. But what if you win the argument and lose your peace? What if you damage the relationship? What if you push away people you need to be for you? It's not worth it. Honor doesn't come from winning the fight. Honor comes from avoiding the fight.
- Being silent doesn't mean you're weak. It's strength under control. When you know who you are, when you're confident and secure, you don't engage in battles that don't matter. You don't spend your time defending, arguing, proving. You protect your peace.
- Your peace is more important than getting your way. Instead of praying, "God, change them," I'll give you a better prayer: "God, change me. Help me to grow. Help me to bite my tongue. Teach me the strength of silence."
- One of the greatest principles to learn is that not everyone deserves your response. Your time is valuable. Your peace is valuable. Don't spend it on every offense, every argument, every opinion. Do like Jesus and ignore it. The strongest person is not the one who wins every argument. It's the one who has the self-control to walk away from conflict that never needed to happen. That's the strength of silence.
Please feel free to contact me at any time if there is ever anything I can do for you or your family. I will always help you any way I can. You can reach me at kevin@whatwillyourinfluencebe.com.
Have a great day and a wonderful weekend. Please cherish your precious family, be kind, and stay well!
Kev
