We are leaders in our lives and in the lives of the many that are watching. We would only be doing right by ourselves and others by following the best leader of them all. God must be the leader of all things in our lives. When we make Him the leader of all we do, even the words we choose to speak become extremely important. Our words are what go before us. They are important not only to others, but also to ourselves. As we make plans for our future we must cultivate honest speech in all that we do. We must stay sensitive to the language we allow near us. When we are not vigilant we leave a door open that can allow havoc into our lives. We must stay on a clear path set by honesty.
Kings detest wrongdoing, for a throne is established through righteousness. Kings take pleasure in honest lips; they value the one who speaks what is right. A king’s wrath is a messenger of death, but the wise will appease it.
Proverbs 16:12-14 NIV
Our temperance is just as important as our words. As we take lead in our lives and others we must invigorate rather than diminish. Through our invigoration we are able to maintain a mild temperament; led by patience, kindness, and self control. The direction of our Father will grow us in these things, just as plants grow from rain. He gives us wisdom by seeing our experiences through His words. The wisdom we gain through His perspective of our circumstances is the wisdom that will shape our lives for what He has planned for us. This is where we must put all our trust. Wisdom is worth far more than any amount of money could come by. When we mind our step we stay on the right path and we are able to bypass evil. We know we are getting closer to God when our prejudice toward others lessens. This is the leadership that is needed.
When a king’s face brightens, it means life; his favor is like a rain cloud in spring. How much better to get wisdom than gold, to get insight rather than silver! The highway of the upright avoids evil; those who guard their ways preserve their lives.
Proverbs 16:15-17 NIV
Considerations for your planner:
- Have you ever considered that your words shape your life? Write down what this means to you moving forward.
- What is your temperament like in the small tasks of your life? Take a moment to consider how you can adjust how you approach situations in your life. Write it down.
A Story of Words and Temperance:
In 2017, I was falsely accused of something that took me not only by surprise, but also sent me into a tailspin I could not stop. I was mortified and became very depressed. You see, I was taught that you would not be accused if you had not done anything. I learned that this is not always true. I did not go out much and I did not drive for quite some time. My daughters banded together and drove me around and did all the things I could not.
I was found not guilty in 2018 and a huge burden was lifted from me. Now I did not know what I was to do with myself and could not see anything in the future. I was so totally dependent on God that I was completely carried by him. The experience gave me time to ask the question "why God?" This craziness began in January and in September a light came on in my brain and the answer was that I sank myself into my job. It became my outlet to the loneliness I felt at home; it became my joy; my self-fulfillment and actually my god. I sank everything I had into my job. That job was gone because I needed to sink everything into God.
Since that realization, God has carried me and restored me by opening a door for another job, a stronger faith and I see and feel Him everywhere. This makes me wonder why I allowed myself to get to this point. The answer is all so clear today. I was unhappy in an unfulfilled marriage where there was no love, respect or faith. I had carried the family burdens and began to carry them on my own. The enemy used all of this to let me think that the job I had could give me all I needed. Staying strong in reading the word and praying was what God needed from me. He has my attention!
- Deborah Alford
Strengthen the Christian Planner Family by sharing your experiences. We'd love to hear a story about God's work in your life. Use the form linked below to submit your story.
