Pr. 15:28: “The heart of the righteous studies how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil.”
How do we wisely study how to answer, instead of allowing our mouths to pour forth our immediate thoughts, risking allowing evil to come forth? Frankly, we must be full of the Word and the Spirit of the Living God. When we are living according to our flesh, we fight in the flesh and winning the battle over the tongue will most certainly be out of reach.
When we live and walk according to the Holy Spirit; however, we have the calm assurance within to know that pausing to study our answer is the strongest thing we can do. Studying how to answer takes humility, patience, trust in, and reliance on the Lord. Did God not say that vengeance is His? He said His name is our strong tower and when we run to it, we are safe.
Deliverance: is that from us, or is that from the Lord? Just like in the victory over Goliath, God is the One who brought it, through David’s faith. The small boy who faced the giant was as unable to defeat the him as all the other well-prepared soldiers. No matter how we’ve prepared our horses and chariots (or words) for battle, the victory belongs to the Lord.
My grandfather always told my mom, who then told me, “don’t make big decisions when you are emotional.” I think that advice was very similar to this verse, as words can do much damage. Pausing to study our answers does not make us weak; it reminds us that our strength comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. When faced with a situation where we have a choice to speak immediately or wait, we must ask God to help us trust in Him and the truth of His word. If we pause and pray, God will guide us. He is always faithful. Trusting in Him will always bring the ultimate victory!
Studying in faith,
jamie
considering the word 