Shut Up

We don't use the phrase "shut up" in our home, but in my quiet time this morning, that phrase came to mind when I read these verses:

"A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards."

"Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words?

there is more hope of a fool than of him."

(Proverbs 29:11, 20)

Being compared with a fool is sobering, and I definitely have some work to do. Thinking on these verses also brought to mind a particular verse in James (as well as chapter three):

"...let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath." (James 1:19)

As someone once said, "You have two ears and one mouth, so you should be doing more listening than talking."

The book of Proverbs is one that is full of verses regarding our tongues and our speech, which is on my list of Bible study topics. As I write this, God continues to bring verses to mind.

"The heart of the righteous studieth to answer, but

the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things." (Prov. 15:28)

This is another reminder to me to be to be "slow to speak."

"That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?" (Prov. 22:21).

Someone once told me that this verse is about "speaking Bible."

How many times do I just randomly give my opinion, my perspective, or my thoughts rather than God's? My prayer is that I will improve in this area making sure to be careful in the things I say. "Oh, be careful little mouth what you say..."