“The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so quit before the quarrel breaks out.” Proverbs‬ ‭17:14‬

If you watched our front porch devotion tonight – you heard @mje_pics and I talking about allowing the Word to change us. To mold us into the image of Christ.

I kept thinking of this verse because God used it last week to correct my behavior. There was something I didn’t want to do. And my fleshly, initial response was, “I am a grown woman and I don’t have to do that.” It was true – I didn’t have to do it. But I would be letting someone down. I would be caving to fear. And I would be disobeying the Lord.

As the tension built, I kept thinking of the proverb I had studied in April. “Stop before the quarrel breaks out.” At that point, the quarrel was just a simmer but it had the potential to become a full blown boil if you know what I mean. One of those quarrels where days are wasted – days that can’t be lived again when the argument is over. And the Word spoke to me.

Stop before the quarrel breaks out.

Stop before you say things you can’t unsay.

Stop before time is wasted.

Stop before feelings are hurt.

Stop while it’s just a simmer.

And I did. This time.