Can You Go One Day Without It? Scott Pauley

Posted in ,

Small-Square_Enjoying-the-Journey-768x738 (7)

Relax. I’m not going to ask you to give up something important like chocolate or coffee. I want to ask you to give up something far more destructive.

A few days ago I started to say something in casual conversation to a family member. It was a thoughtless comment. A negative word about someone I did not even know. At that moment the Holy Spirit convicted me.

Now, as a general rule, I am a fairly positive person. But those who know me best would tell you that when I get overly tired I can also get irritable. We all must guard ourselves at such times.

One careless, critical word can do such damage. And so back to my story…

In the quiet of my spirit the Lord said to me, “I wonder what it would be like for you to go an entire day without saying anything unkind or hurtful?” I wonder.

Our mothers used to tell us that if we didn’t have something nice to say we shouldn’t say anything at all. That is good advice for all of life! Sometimes it is best to simply say nothing.

Would you join me in a challenge? Let’s ask God to help us go all day today without saying a single word that would grieve the Holy Spirit and hurt the heart of others.

“Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips” (Psalm 141:3).

Discover more from Enjoying the Journey

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Post Author

Scott Pauley

More from similar topics

| | | | |

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Recent Posts

A journey through 1 John reveals our place in the family of God, how we can have assurance, and that our joy is rooted in Christ.

Journey through 1 John

December 12, 2025
“Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.” (John 1:47-48)

Why the Story of Nathanael Sitting Under the Fig Tree Matters

December 10, 2025
It also discusses the Four Sermons in Haggai It is in that context that God raises up the prophet Haggai with four sermons in four months. The Word of the Lord comes to Haggai, and he preaches four sermons. Each one of them is dated for us. Each sermon targets a different problem. You can read them in Haggai chapters one and two. In his first sermon (Haggai 1:1-15), Haggai preached on the danger of waiting when we should be working. They were waiting for a sign to build. He said, You don't need a sign, you need to obey God. Haggai's second sermon (Haggai 2:1-9) explained the danger of lamenting the past and missing the present. They were sorrowing over the destruction of the past temple. God said, Build a new one. It was G. Campbell Morgan who said, “It is impossible to unlock the present with the rusty key of the past." Many people are bogged down in their past and miss the present. Keep in mind what is at hand and what is ahead. The third sermon he preached (Haggai 2:10-19) described the danger of seeing only the material and neglecting the supernatural. They could see the work that needed to be done, but they missed the fact that God had resources that would help them get it done. The Lord was behind all of this. The fourth sermon (Haggai 2:20-23) warned against the danger of recognizing who is against us and forgetting who is for us. They were concentrating on the opposition and forgetting that “greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4). A journey through Haggai shows us the importance of performing the work that God has told us to do, and His glory in our obedience. Image leads to an overview of Haggai

Journey through Haggai

December 9, 2025
How Social Media Shapes Our Heart

How Social Media Shapes Our Hearts

December 5, 2025

Categories

5 Comments

  1. Margaret Martin on August 31, 2017 at 2:59 PM

    I promise to think before I speak and pray that others will try, as well. Oft times, we forget these simple things in everyday life.

    Reply
    • Scott Pauley on August 31, 2017 at 7:12 PM

      Thanks for taking time to read and comment!

      Reply
  2. W. L. Graham on September 1, 2017 at 8:59 AM

    Although still “living and learning”, as a youth the Lord impressed Eph. 4:31 and 32 upon my heart — with special attention to the word “ALL” ! “All” means 100% ! (Ouch!)

    Reply
    • Scott Pauley on September 1, 2017 at 11:31 AM

      Amen. Thanks for taking time to read and share. God bless you all.

      Reply

Leave a Reply