I don’t know about you, but the place of my most real humanity is my home. At home, the guards are off, there is seemingly no one to impress, and you “are who you really are.” My greatest problem in that arena is my mouth. I am a man of many words and so it is easy to let my tongue go into motion without my brain or spiritual heart in gear.

Proverbs 10 gives me great instruction today about how to bless and not hurt my family. To apply this, I’m putting it into Ten Resolutions made possible by the grace of God.

I resolve, by God’s grace to do the following:

1. To listen and receive what others are saying before I speak.
“The wise of heart will receive commandments, but a babbling fool will come to ruin.” Pr 10:8

2. To speak with complete integrity and honesty.
“Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.” Pr 10:9

3. To ask myself first, “How can my words bring life right now?”
“The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.” Pr 10:11

4. To ask God each day to flood my heart with love for my family and be willing to overlook what may be offensive to me.
“Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.” Pr 10:12

5. To seek to understand so I can respond wisely.
“On the lips of him who has understanding, wisdom is found…” Pr 10:13

6. To listen and adjust when reproved so I can be a better mate and parent.
“Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life, but he who rejects reproof leads others astray.” Pr 10:17

7. To speak less, pray more.
“When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.” Pr 10:19

8. To speak what will bring value to my family.
“The tongue of the righteous is choice silver…the lips of the righteous feed many.” Pr 10:20-21

9. To seek to live righteously so I can learn and give wisdom.
“The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut off.” Pr. 10:31

10. To speak only what is fit for the need of the moment.
“The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked, what is perverse.” Pr 10:32

Although I may be far from these resolutions, it is encouraging to know that I can GROW by God’s grace. These steps are possible by the grace of God and the daily indwelling of His Spirit as I humbly depend on Him to live through me.

Would you print these out, put them on where you can seem them daily and join me in blessing your family?

 

©2012 Bill Elliff.  Originally posted on July 10, 2013, at Bill Elliff’s Blog.