… a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; Ecclesiastes 3:7
I thought about a very old and familiar catch phrase “silence is golden” when the Lord dropped this title in my spirit. It derives from a proverbial expression that dates back to ancient Egypt (they say). It was often used in circumstances where the thought was “saying nothing is preferable or more desirable to speaking.” I would be inclined to agree in most circumstances because there are some instances in which we should just keep silent.
I remember always hearing as a young girl that “if you don’t have anything good to say, then don’t say anything at all.” I tried to keep hold to that mantra while growing into my adulthood because given my personality, the bold and the brazen, keeping my mouth shut would sometimes prove to be a task within itself (thank God for Jesus!). I can hear my grandmother saying, “Jane, keep your mouth shut, and don’t say a word!” Honestly, even though I was listening, sometimes I was just not able to do so and my mouth would run amok. I was very passionate and outspoken about the issues of life, racial injustices, color barriers, and so many other things we faced in that time, which was the late 60’s in Kentucky. But given the growth, wisdom, maturity, and a whole lot of Holy Ghost, I’ve learned there is value in silence—depending on the occasion and depending on the moment. Sometimes, it’s best to stay silent rather than say something that will cause friction or discord or saying something that you will regret later... because words are irretrievable. So yes, again I say that in some circumstances, silence can be golden.
We are living in a time where it is imperative that we understand we must speak a word in or out of season (2 Tim 4:2). It’s always appropriate for us to use Godly wisdom before we speak in any given situation or circumstance. It is vital and equally as important that we use that wisdom to know how to speak, what to speak, and when to speak in order for God to get the glory and not us (Psalm 39:2). These are times when it becomes hard to keep silent, especially when we are seeing the injustices, unfair treatment and the wrongdoers of the world. Everyone out for themselves, saying whatever they want and whenever they want. Surely, we cannot sit idly by and not speak; we must get involved. We cannot hope and pray that things will go away or let someone else handle it or perhaps think that this is not my issue. It becomes true even more so when we experience it inside the church and among the very people who say they love God yet have their own agendas. I believe the latter part of Timothy is clear when it says to reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. And over in Titus 2 it says, but speak thou the things which become sound doctrine and sound speech, that cannot be condemned and these things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. We need to be about it. What do we think Jesus would say if we aren’t about the work He has called us to do? Well, silence then is not so golden when we are looking at it in this context of “saying nothing is preferable or more desirable to speaking.” Really? What about our voice? Who will take the stand? What about the power we say we possess as God’s mouthpieces and His vessels? We can’t rightfully restrain it and we certainly should not suppress it when it becomes the time to speak for the glory and the honor of God. We have to make God's people accountable so that the ministry does not suffer (2 Cor 6:3-7).
I think about how in this stage of my life, I am still very passionate and outspoken especially when it pertains to the things of God. I don’t believe that my grandmother would tell me to keep my mouth shut now. In the world of technology, with all of the various mediums we have at our disposal, we can have a voice to convey what God (not us) has given us to relay to His people. Now, I can write it, speak it, blog it, text it, email it or tweet it (and believe me I am). This good news is so wonderful that you cannot contain it and you just can’t keep it to yourself especially, when you want to uplift, enlighten or encourage; but even moreso for the correction, instruction and edification of God’s people. These are times when we have to stand up and declare the righteousness, the faithfulness, and the lovingkindness of God (Psalm 40:8-10). This is my time to speak and certainly for me right now, silence is not always so golden!
Until the morning, be blessed,
Cynde
I thought about a very old and familiar catch phrase “silence is golden” when the Lord dropped this title in my spirit. It derives from a proverbial expression that dates back to ancient Egypt (they say). It was often used in circumstances where the thought was “saying nothing is preferable or more desirable to speaking.” I would be inclined to agree in most circumstances because there are some instances in which we should just keep silent.
I remember always hearing as a young girl that “if you don’t have anything good to say, then don’t say anything at all.” I tried to keep hold to that mantra while growing into my adulthood because given my personality, the bold and the brazen, keeping my mouth shut would sometimes prove to be a task within itself (thank God for Jesus!). I can hear my grandmother saying, “Jane, keep your mouth shut, and don’t say a word!” Honestly, even though I was listening, sometimes I was just not able to do so and my mouth would run amok. I was very passionate and outspoken about the issues of life, racial injustices, color barriers, and so many other things we faced in that time, which was the late 60’s in Kentucky. But given the growth, wisdom, maturity, and a whole lot of Holy Ghost, I’ve learned there is value in silence—depending on the occasion and depending on the moment. Sometimes, it’s best to stay silent rather than say something that will cause friction or discord or saying something that you will regret later... because words are irretrievable. So yes, again I say that in some circumstances, silence can be golden.
We are living in a time where it is imperative that we understand we must speak a word in or out of season (2 Tim 4:2). It’s always appropriate for us to use Godly wisdom before we speak in any given situation or circumstance. It is vital and equally as important that we use that wisdom to know how to speak, what to speak, and when to speak in order for God to get the glory and not us (Psalm 39:2). These are times when it becomes hard to keep silent, especially when we are seeing the injustices, unfair treatment and the wrongdoers of the world. Everyone out for themselves, saying whatever they want and whenever they want. Surely, we cannot sit idly by and not speak; we must get involved. We cannot hope and pray that things will go away or let someone else handle it or perhaps think that this is not my issue. It becomes true even more so when we experience it inside the church and among the very people who say they love God yet have their own agendas. I believe the latter part of Timothy is clear when it says to reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. And over in Titus 2 it says, but speak thou the things which become sound doctrine and sound speech, that cannot be condemned and these things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. We need to be about it. What do we think Jesus would say if we aren’t about the work He has called us to do? Well, silence then is not so golden when we are looking at it in this context of “saying nothing is preferable or more desirable to speaking.” Really? What about our voice? Who will take the stand? What about the power we say we possess as God’s mouthpieces and His vessels? We can’t rightfully restrain it and we certainly should not suppress it when it becomes the time to speak for the glory and the honor of God. We have to make God's people accountable so that the ministry does not suffer (2 Cor 6:3-7).
I think about how in this stage of my life, I am still very passionate and outspoken especially when it pertains to the things of God. I don’t believe that my grandmother would tell me to keep my mouth shut now. In the world of technology, with all of the various mediums we have at our disposal, we can have a voice to convey what God (not us) has given us to relay to His people. Now, I can write it, speak it, blog it, text it, email it or tweet it (and believe me I am). This good news is so wonderful that you cannot contain it and you just can’t keep it to yourself especially, when you want to uplift, enlighten or encourage; but even moreso for the correction, instruction and edification of God’s people. These are times when we have to stand up and declare the righteousness, the faithfulness, and the lovingkindness of God (Psalm 40:8-10). This is my time to speak and certainly for me right now, silence is not always so golden!
Until the morning, be blessed,
Cynde
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