Colossians 4:5-6, Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

If there was ever a “day” when this could truly be a constant challenge, it is the “day” we are living in. The norm in the world today appears to be to speak your mind without any concern about how, where, or who the blast of anger-filled or harsh words may fall. If we aren’t careful, it is easy to respond in kind, blasting our own hateful response back. 

If we respond in anger at anger, we are just fueling a fire we should be either walking away from or attempting to, by the grace of God, put out. Words cannot be taken back, and over time, the pain caused by those words can destroy relationships. The Bible tells us that we will answer to God for our words, and even though we know He forgives us, we can’t dismiss the damage that may have been caused by our words.

Knowing that we are living in the “last days,” we need to make our focus so fixed on reaching others that His compassion for them is what fills our heart, versus anger, so that is what will flow out of our mouths. Luke 6:45, “The good person out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil person out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.” 

If you are holding on to past hurts, it will eventually turn into anger. Sometimes, even though we forgive, we allow satan the opportunity to keep bringing to our minds what someone has said or done until we are angry about it all over again. While pain that runs that deep is most likely justified, and you have every right to have been angry about it all, you don’t want to live there or allow satan the opportunity to destroy your ability to move forward, as well as destroy relationships. The enemy has been keeping notes, and he knows every little trigger you may have, and if he can’t make you do something bad, he will do his best to make you bitter. Nothing you hold on to is vindicating you ~ going over and over in your mind what was said or done doesn’t change the other person, doesn’t make them sorry or vindicate you in any way, it does the complete opposite by blocking you in that little cell satan was so anxious to lock you in, so you aren’t focused on what God has for you. He will make you think that venting and getting angry about it all over again is going to somehow help you feel better, but that will just leave you stuck until you ask God to remove the hurt and anger you feel from your heart about it all. Trust me, none of us is exempt. I have had to pray that prayer over and over in my life, but I would rather fight to give it all to God and trust that He will work in the other person’s life than to be the one God needs to focus on setting straight. “Create in me a clean heart and a right attitude” is a common prayer for me. The last thing I want is to join the side of the battle that has already come against me and the ministry. It’s not ever easy to let go of that deep-rooted pain because we don’t always know when or how God will work things out, but it is even harder to carry all of that pain on your own. So, take some time and pour your heart out to Him and ask Him to help you refocus as you give it all to Him, trusting that He will handle it all and will vindicate you at the right time.

Regardless of where we may be in this struggle, let’s be sure to ask Him every day to give us His heart for other people. We don’t need to judge; we are called to love and show His love. Let’s each be sure to ask Him to fill our hearts and minds with His love, compassion, forgiveness, and grace for other people so we can be the ambassadors He has called us to be!