*Be Silent*
By: Sharon Campbell-Danvers
I am absolutely positive that there are moments in your lives when you all feel quite confrontational. You want to confront someone who said something about you. You feel like you must clear up a misunderstanding. You believe it is imperative that you defend your position on a matter. I found myself at this place recently when the Spirit declared to me to- *keep silent* ❗ I was commanded not to utter a word. This was very hard for me because I felt abused and wrongfully accused but God said- Keep Silent. Therefore, I pleaded with the Lord to - _Set a watch, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips (Psalm 141:3)_ . Sometimes we take up cases that the Lord truly wants us to leave alone. We get into confrontations that are not God’s way to solve issues. We forget that those who live Godly lives must suffer affliction and persecution. Also, just as how Jesus was persecuted for righteousness sake we too have to endure the same. In _James: 1: 9 we are admonished to be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath._
Instructing us to keep silent does not imply that Jesus is out of touch with our realities. Keeping silent simply means that God is dealing with the matter and he does not require our interference.
We may feel sometimes that we have to speak up because we have a name or a reputation to protect, or we have a point to prove. But we need to listen to Jesus and know when to keep silent. Know when to close our mouths! The bible tells us that when Jesus faced similar struggles there were times when he opened not his mouth (Isaiah 53:7). May the Lord teach us how and when to bridle our tongues and to know when to keep silent.
Lord, we thank you for this day. Proverbs 13: 3 declares that - He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: [but] he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction . Teach us when to close our mouths so that we find life and not destruction.
