Chapter 7 "Lord Help Me To Think!"

Chapter 7 "Lord Help Me To Think!"

Discretion means the quality of being careful or discreet about what one does and says. Discreet, in turn, means to be prudent, tactful, judicious, cautious, circumspect, diplomatic, and polite. Sarcasm falls far short of any of these meanings. My personal definition of discretion is knowing when to speak and when to be quiet. David makes an interesting statement in Psalm 39: 1: “I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin; I will put a muzzle on my mouth as long as the wicked are in my presence.”

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A discreet person guards his lips, restrains his speech, and muzzles his mouth! One who has discretion has three endearing qualities: That person thinks before speaking, knows when to keep still, and understands when to speak.

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What does it mean to you to "think" before you speak, be "still" and not speak, and "understand when to speak?"  Can you think of a time when you should have thought or kept silent?

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I want to be a woman of knowledge and understanding. But do you know some of the characteristics of such a person? “A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered. Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue” (Proverbs 17: 27-28). When I read that, I thought of what my grandmother used to say: “Better to keep silent and be

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Doing the right or proper thing is part of having discretion both in speech and actions.

As ambassadors for Christ, we need discretion desperately. Part of that discretion is speaking both what is proper and when it is necessary. Martin Luther King once said, “History will have to record that the greatest tragedy of this period of social transition was not the strident clamor of the bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people.” 3 Silence is often taken for approval. Therefore, when we do not approve, it may be sin not to declare our convictions. The apostle James wrote, “To him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin” (James 4: 17, KJV). I wonder how many times I have sinned by not writing a note of encouragement when God prompted me to do so, by not speaking up for a friend who was being criticized, or by not defending a principle in the arena of untruth.

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What does it mean to you to be discrete? 

Read Proverbs 26:4-5.  Is the author confused?  What do you think these verses mean in your own words?  What can this verse teach us about discretion?

Read Psalm 39:1, Proverbs 10:19, 15:28, and 17:27-28.  Write a few sentences in your own words to summarize how these verses teach us to be prudent and discrete in our speech.  What are three ways these truths could be put into practice in your home or life?

Read Proverbs 5:1-2, how does one gain discretion?  What practical steps can you take this week to gain discretion?