Pastor Joel Osteen Daily Devotional October 14 2023.

SCRIPTURE: Psalm 141:3–4, NLT “Take control of what I say, O LORD, and guard my lips. Don’t let me drift toward evil or take part in acts of wickedness. Don’t let me share in the delicacies of those who do wrong.”

In relationships, we all have conflicts and things we don’t like. I’m not saying you should never have a disagreement, tension, or stress. I’m saying that you should step back and not make hurtful comments in the heat of the moment. That’s going to damage your relationships. “Well, Joel, if my spouse wouldn’t push my buttons and if my children would act right, I wouldn’t say things I shouldn’t. If my coworkers wouldn’t get on my nerves, I’d be more respectful.” These are tests that we all have to pass. The people in your life are never going to be perfect. You have to learn to tame your tongue. That means you don’t say everything you feel like saying. You may not think it, but you’re disciplined enough to zip it up. Maybe your boss is rude to you, and you’re about to let him have it, to tell him what you think. The problem is that he’s the boss and you’re not. After you let your emotions speak, after you give him a piece of your mind, you’ll be on a high for about ten minutes, feeling good, giving people high-fives. Then you’ll realize that he still has a job, and you don’t. It’s much better to tame your tongue. Then you won’t have to live with regrets and ask, “What was I thinking? Why did I say that?”

Love makes allowances for people’s weaknesses. Love overlooks a wrong done to us. You have to rise above these petty things that are pulling you apart. Give people room to have a bad day. When they’re rude, don’t sink to that level. Be an eagle and rise above it.

Life is too short for you to live at odds with others, being contentious, arguing over things that don’t matter. Some people are so hardheaded that they have to have the last word in every argument. They’ll argue for twenty-seven days so they can have the final word. Let it go. Quit wasting your energy. You have a destiny to fulfill. You have an assignment to accomplish. Those are distractions trying to pull you off course. Zip it up and let the other person be right. You may know they’re wrong. It doesn’t matter. Let them think they’re right. Don’t waste your valuable time on something that’s not moving you toward your purpose.

Dear Lord, Thank You for Your guidance today. When I’m on the brink of saying things that I shouldn’t, I pray that You’ll help me keep my lips sealed. Lead me, Lord, to be slow to speak and quick to seek Your wisdom. Strengthen me, God, to control my tongue and to choose words that uplift rather than pull down. Remind me, Father, that being critical or disrespectful blocks me from entering my promised land. Help me to respect my spouse, my children, and my coworkers. Teach me to walk away from speaking ill about others so I can reach my destiny. I remember, Lord, your wisdom: “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit” (Proverbs 18:21, NKJV). Grant me the grace to choose life. In Jesus’ Name, I pray. Amen.