In reading today, the first thing that really jumped out at me was verse 3:

“The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, but the Lord tests hearts.”

Wow...that is strong right there.  When I am struggling, when I am bleeding, when I am hurting, what is my GUT reaction?  Do I seek the Lord, or do I take things into my own hands and blaze my own path?  Is seeking God’s counsel the gut reaction that I have?

Just as silver is shaped and challenged by the crucible, and gold by the furnace, we, God’s children, are shaped in times of challenge and struggle...and God is not only testing us to strengthen us, but to see ‘who’s’ we really are...and we are wise to recognize that tendency in ourselves as well.  A great sign of spiritual development is when that reflex reaction leans more and more heavily towards relying on God, that we would seek His wisdom, that we would look to His word, and that we would pause and consider the ‘wise’ thing to do.  That’s when we know God is really seeping into us and molding us.

Man, that’s good stuff right there!

And then the last 2 verses really struck me, verses 27-28:

“Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.

Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.”

I would consider myself a positive person, an optimist.  I would also consider myself a persistent person.  Over time, especially as it relates to my career, I have had various highs and lows and my life, as is the case with everyone, has gone through these ebbs and flows.  2020 was an especially stressful year, as was 2019, and I think it really wore me down.  Some of that positivity, some of that optimism was converted into cynicism.  In the grand scheme of things, it was stress just converting that optimism to cynicism...that’s what happens.  The thing is, I have noticed that my words have followed, and they’ve become more critical, more cynical, and less optimistic.  The problem is, our tongues, by way of our words (as Proverbs clearly teaches) essentially have the ability to direct our lives.  Spewing negativity can’t have positive effect on my life...that just isn’t going to happen.  It can give me a stress relief in the moment, at best.  At worst...well, it can be WAY worse, and we know that.

So, I am going to strap on a rubber band today, and keep it on for a few days, and I am going to snap it against my wrist when I catch myself making negative comments.  It think it will just take a week or two and I will get back on top of myself in this way, but I think it is a great and important habit as I start 2021...to do as verse 27 suggests, to restrain my words, to maintain a cool spirit.  Great reminder on this front this morning.