Show Notes
Have you ever noticed how easy it is to stay quiet when you see something going wrong? You spot the mistake, sense the danger, feel that nudge to say something – but the easier path is silence. "Let it run its course," you tell yourself. But deep down, you know it's not right.
When President Abraham Lincoln drafted the first version of the slavery Emancipation Proclamation, many of his cabinet members simply nodded along. It was a bold move – too bold, some thought – but few had the courage to speak.
One did: Secretary of State William Seward. He told Lincoln the timing was wrong; issuing it after a Union defeat would look desperate. Lincoln listened, delayed, and when he finally announced it after a major victory, it electrified the nation and changed the course of history.
Seward's courage to give the hard advice not only helped his president but strengthened his own influence and friendship with him.
Proverbs 15:23 A person finds joy in giving an apt reply – and how good is a timely word! (NIV)
True joy doesn't come from avoiding discomfort. It comes from courageously speaking truth in love – at the right time, in the right way.
That kind of word can heal, redirect or protect someone you care about.
So today, if God's nudging you to speak up – don't shrink back. The easy route might spare you awkwardness, but the courageous word spoken in love could change everything.
Who in your life needs that timely word from you right now?
A person finds joy in giving an apt reply – and how good is a timely word!
That's God's Word. Fresh … for you … today.
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