“So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;” James 1:19 New King James Version

If we don’t learn by listening, we will learn by experience. Staying on the listening road leads to a smoother path to our destiny. On the road of experience we will have accidents, bumps and bruises. Both paths are demonstrated in the parable of the prodigal son who had to learn the hard way that his father knew best. (Read Luke 15 and 16)

One of the most desirable fruit in the world today is peace. The world is full of violence, upset and chaos. Money can buy a lot of things, but it cannot buy peace.

• Galatians 5:22-23 New King James Version – ²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

Here a two ways to keep the peace:

• One: WATCH WHAT YOU THINK.
• Two: WATCH WHAT YOU SAY.

To keep the peace we must watch what we say, not just what other people say. God created the worlds with words. What are we creating with our words? The words of people can have power over us IF we let them. We can choose to receive a word or to reject a word. The only word we need to always receive is the Word of God.

For example, Eve allowed the devil’s words to get her out of fellowship with God. (Read Genesis 3). Watch out for words that cause us to doubt. We can’t let anything cause us to doubt God and His promises. The enemy will try to drop words into our hearts that are false. A false word separates us from God.

God is truth and speaks nothing but the truth. We should be especially careful not to spread a false word. The wrong words spoken by us or other people can rob us of our peace. We have the authority to overcome the lies of the enemy.

• Luke 10:19 New King James Version – Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

Sometimes the enemy will use people we trust the most to drop a negative seed into our spirits.

• James 3:8-10 New King James Version – ⁸ But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. ⁹ With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.

Also, we need to make sure we are not dropping negative seed on other people by our words.

• James 1:19 New King James Version – So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;
• 2 Corinthians 13:11 New King James Version –  Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.

If we say something that is wrong, we need to apologize. And, we must be willing to forgive people who have said offensive things to us. After all, we have said and done many things that are offensive to God and He gives us grace to repent–apologize and get it right the next time. But, never trade in truth just to keep the peace. Speak truth in a loving manner. We don’t have to wait until our mouth gets us in trouble. We can be proactive and pray daily to speak in a way that brings peace.

“Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips.”

Psalm 141:3 New King James Version