Good morning to everyone. Grace and peace be with you.
I have an inquiring question. No worries, it is not a pop quiz, more of an inquisitive type of question.
Have you ever had a discussion where you needed a time out to actually contemplate and mull over the subject matter … before responding to whomever the discussion is with?
Sorry, this question has sub-part questions … haha.
When you did not have an immediate response, did you feel as though you had failed in presenting your position?
Now, I am pretty sure that all of us have been in those situations. And I am pretty sure that our ego took a hit. Kind of like getting the punch line to a joke two hours after the joke was told or you get a zinger come back to something that was said earlier…but now its out of place.
I wanted to touch on this subject a little bit this morning because I think that this area is a substantial area that the enemy uses to pierce our armor. Slide in under the cuff and irritate our skin.
On many occasions I have found myself not being able to introduce the appropriate response to a conversation that would clearly set my position on a topic. My mind was blank, but the answer was ‘right there.’ Hours, even days later, the response that I was seeking would randomly appear. Sometimes the person that I was having the discussion with would be available to continue the discussion and sometimes it felt as though I had failed God because I was not ‘smart’ enough to come up with the answer right then when it counted.
When I hit one of those ladder snags, I have to ask myself this … was that discussion a discussion to explore the truth … or was that a discussion to boast my status?
When I place those parameters on the discussion, I see more clearly that most times, I was trying to be a big shot and only push my theory. I am happy to say that I there are more times now…that it is a deeper exploration of the truth where the discussion can linger for days and it is not a matter of (who) was right but (what) is right.
I am blessed to be in one such discussion in which the two of us clearly listen and counter with different thoughts and probabilities. When we hit a snag … then it is like … I must think this over and search the Word for guidance. These are the discussions that are the ones that truly are seeking Truth…not ego boost. Neither of us are seeking glory but are enjoying the educational banter around a topic of interest.
If you find yourself in such a place or position where the discussion is deep, and you are not sure of a response, there is nothing wrong with expressing a desire to think about the other’s opinion/view and coming back later to further the discussion. Proverbs talk a lot about being a fool or foolish talk. I would much rather be considered a fool for taking my time to answer a question than to actually being fool be speaking rhetoric that is false.
Deep and truthful discussions with like-minded or even, in some cases, different minded people are exactly what is necessary to grow. Not only for you…but for them. The requirement on our part is that we go into the discussion knowing that we don’t know everything and that there is a reason for this discussion.
Take a few moments today and ask God to guide your thoughts in your daily discussions and open your mind to the lessons that you are supposed to be learning in them.
Be blessed today my friends.
***The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise. –Psalm 111:10
I have an inquiring question. No worries, it is not a pop quiz, more of an inquisitive type of question.
Have you ever had a discussion where you needed a time out to actually contemplate and mull over the subject matter … before responding to whomever the discussion is with?
Sorry, this question has sub-part questions … haha.
When you did not have an immediate response, did you feel as though you had failed in presenting your position?
Now, I am pretty sure that all of us have been in those situations. And I am pretty sure that our ego took a hit. Kind of like getting the punch line to a joke two hours after the joke was told or you get a zinger come back to something that was said earlier…but now its out of place.
I wanted to touch on this subject a little bit this morning because I think that this area is a substantial area that the enemy uses to pierce our armor. Slide in under the cuff and irritate our skin.
On many occasions I have found myself not being able to introduce the appropriate response to a conversation that would clearly set my position on a topic. My mind was blank, but the answer was ‘right there.’ Hours, even days later, the response that I was seeking would randomly appear. Sometimes the person that I was having the discussion with would be available to continue the discussion and sometimes it felt as though I had failed God because I was not ‘smart’ enough to come up with the answer right then when it counted.
When I hit one of those ladder snags, I have to ask myself this … was that discussion a discussion to explore the truth … or was that a discussion to boast my status?
When I place those parameters on the discussion, I see more clearly that most times, I was trying to be a big shot and only push my theory. I am happy to say that I there are more times now…that it is a deeper exploration of the truth where the discussion can linger for days and it is not a matter of (who) was right but (what) is right.
I am blessed to be in one such discussion in which the two of us clearly listen and counter with different thoughts and probabilities. When we hit a snag … then it is like … I must think this over and search the Word for guidance. These are the discussions that are the ones that truly are seeking Truth…not ego boost. Neither of us are seeking glory but are enjoying the educational banter around a topic of interest.
If you find yourself in such a place or position where the discussion is deep, and you are not sure of a response, there is nothing wrong with expressing a desire to think about the other’s opinion/view and coming back later to further the discussion. Proverbs talk a lot about being a fool or foolish talk. I would much rather be considered a fool for taking my time to answer a question than to actually being fool be speaking rhetoric that is false.
Deep and truthful discussions with like-minded or even, in some cases, different minded people are exactly what is necessary to grow. Not only for you…but for them. The requirement on our part is that we go into the discussion knowing that we don’t know everything and that there is a reason for this discussion.
Take a few moments today and ask God to guide your thoughts in your daily discussions and open your mind to the lessons that you are supposed to be learning in them.
Be blessed today my friends.
***The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise. –Psalm 111:10
Good morning to everyone. Grace and peace be with you.
I have an inquiring question. No worries, it is not a pop quiz, more of an inquisitive type of question.
Have you ever had a discussion where you needed a time out to actually contemplate and mull over the subject matter … before responding to whomever the discussion is with?
Sorry, this question has sub-part questions … haha.
When you did not have an immediate response, did you feel as though you had failed in presenting your position?
Now, I am pretty sure that all of us have been in those situations. And I am pretty sure that our ego took a hit. Kind of like getting the punch line to a joke two hours after the joke was told or you get a zinger come back to something that was said earlier…but now its out of place.
I wanted to touch on this subject a little bit this morning because I think that this area is a substantial area that the enemy uses to pierce our armor. Slide in under the cuff and irritate our skin.
On many occasions I have found myself not being able to introduce the appropriate response to a conversation that would clearly set my position on a topic. My mind was blank, but the answer was ‘right there.’ Hours, even days later, the response that I was seeking would randomly appear. Sometimes the person that I was having the discussion with would be available to continue the discussion and sometimes it felt as though I had failed God because I was not ‘smart’ enough to come up with the answer right then when it counted.
When I hit one of those ladder snags, I have to ask myself this … was that discussion a discussion to explore the truth … or was that a discussion to boast my status?
When I place those parameters on the discussion, I see more clearly that most times, I was trying to be a big shot and only push my theory. I am happy to say that I there are more times now…that it is a deeper exploration of the truth where the discussion can linger for days and it is not a matter of (who) was right but (what) is right.
I am blessed to be in one such discussion in which the two of us clearly listen and counter with different thoughts and probabilities. When we hit a snag … then it is like … I must think this over and search the Word for guidance. These are the discussions that are the ones that truly are seeking Truth…not ego boost. Neither of us are seeking glory but are enjoying the educational banter around a topic of interest.
If you find yourself in such a place or position where the discussion is deep, and you are not sure of a response, there is nothing wrong with expressing a desire to think about the other’s opinion/view and coming back later to further the discussion. Proverbs talk a lot about being a fool or foolish talk. I would much rather be considered a fool for taking my time to answer a question than to actually being fool be speaking rhetoric that is false.
Deep and truthful discussions with like-minded or even, in some cases, different minded people are exactly what is necessary to grow. Not only for you…but for them. The requirement on our part is that we go into the discussion knowing that we don’t know everything and that there is a reason for this discussion.
Take a few moments today and ask God to guide your thoughts in your daily discussions and open your mind to the lessons that you are supposed to be learning in them.
Be blessed today my friends.
***The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise. –Psalm 111:10
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