AN IMPORTANT UPDATE FROM GOD: KEEP SILENT

Yesterday I sent my daughter Ember a text on her way to her new job:

Humble yourself.
Don’t be so quick to clap back.
Be silent sometimes.
And listen.
Gratitude! Humility please, boo.

This morning, God answered.

I asked Meta to roll to a page from 1-170 on our family site.
Page 84 opened.

God had more to say about the TALK LESS part:

“Any words at all… you can say them to Me. But with others, GET TO LOVE SILENCE. I mean by that a silence of goodness. You will find me there. I shall hear all the words that you don’t say. You will keep them for Me, for My sake. You will ask Me for the strength, and these silences will be like cut flowers. I’ll offer them to Myself in a bouquet. Right now would you like to begin this silence with others, this silence that will speak so eloquently to My love? I ask you for this new way of pleasing Me. I need all your ways. How could I not want your entire being when I know that you are free.” – He and I

What God is teaching me:
When I’m ready, He will begin teaching me lessons in love.
Holding back words is one of them. It’s hard. It’s also respect.

We can tell God anything.
With others, we can offer the unsaid – the hurtful, belittling, embarrassing words – as a gift to Him. A bouquet of silence.

Someone told me recently, “Nikki, you talk too much!”
I agree. Let’s be mindful of what we say and make God proud of us. Kk?!?
May God give us the strength to do so. Amen.

“Pleasant words are like honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” – Proverbs 16:24

This was no coincidence.
God is talking to all of us today about wisdom: what to say, what not to say.

I’m choosing constant conversation with God all day, filtering every word and every action through Him:
God, what would You have me do or not do?
God, what would You have me say or not say?
God, where would You have me go or not go?
Everything for the glory of God.

The verse I’m standing on:

“Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” – Ephesians 3:20

Testimony Within a Testimony

I asked Ember how she got her new job so fast.
She said, “I’m God’s favorite!”

Like mama, like daughter.
I’m telling you: I’m God’s favorite, and my daughter is politely claiming that crown too.

Even when God allows “negative” situations, we trust He knows what He’s doing.
He’s sandpapering us – making us stronger, wiser, maturing and evolving us into who He’s calling us to be.
Heehaw!

Ember doesn’t play about her relationship with God.
Last time I asked about her appointment with Him, she said:
“God said I should trust Him and live life one day at a time.”

I told her, “Your mama needed to hear that right now.”
My biggest struggle is overthinking and not trusting God enough.

May today be the day we decrease in worrying and increase in faith.

Like Ember’s friend Mo taught us:

MY FAITH IN GOD IS THE REASON WHY I CAN BE POSITIVE. I TRUST GOD HAS MY BACK NO MATTER WHAT COMES MY WAY.

BE GREAT EVERY DAY… WE ROLL WITH GOD

META BREAKDOWN AND ANALYSIS:

1. The text Mom sent Ember
Mom told Ember before her new job:
“Chill. Don’t snap back at people. Be quiet sometimes. Listen. Say thanks. Be humble.”

Translation for you: Before you walk into school, a job, or even a group chat, check yourself. You don’t have to win every argument. Sometimes the strongest move is to not talk.

2. God doubled down on Page 84
Mom rolled the Bible and God basically said:
“Joshie, you can tell Me anything. Vent to Me. But with your friends, your teachers, your teammates… try quiet. Quiet is good. When you hold back a mean word, it’s like you’re handing Me a flower. I keep it. I love that.”

Translation for you: God hears what you DON’T say. Every time you bite your tongue instead of clapping back, that’s a gift to Him. He notices.

3. Why this is hard but worth it
Mom said someone told her, “Nikki, you talk too much!” And she agreed.
God says holding back words = respect.

Translation for you: You know when someone says something dumb and you want to roast them? That pause before you reply? That’s power. That’s respect. That’s you choosing peace over being right. Coaches call that discipline.

4. The daily filter Mom uses
Mom asks God all day: “Should I say this? Do this? Go there?”
She runs everything through God first.

Translation for you: Before you post, before you text back, before you walk into a situation, ask: “God, is this a good move?” Two seconds with Him saves you two weeks of drama.

5. Two verses Mom keeps close
Proverbs 16:24 – “Nice words are like honey. They heal you.”
Ephesians 3:20 – “God can do way more than you can imagine.”

Translation for you: Your words can either build someone up or tear them down. And God can take your life further than you can plan it. Trust Him with the playbook.

6. Ember’s testimony
Ember got her job fast and said, “I’m God’s favorite!”
Mom said, “Same. We’re both God’s favorite.”
Even hard stuff is God “sandpapering” you – making you stronger.

Translation for you: When life gets rough, it’s not God punishing you. It’s Him training you. Like lifting weights. It sucks in the moment, but you’re getting stronger for the next game.

7. Ember’s friend Mo’s line
“MY FAITH IN GOD IS THE REASON WHY I CAN BE POSITIVE. I TRUST GOD HAS MY BACK NO MATTER WHAT COMES MY WAY.”

Translation for you: That’s it. That’s the whole game plan. Faith = confidence. If God has your back, you can walk into anything.

JOSHIE, WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH THIS TODAY?

Your 3-Play Game Plan:

Play 1: The 5-Second Rule
Before you reply, pause 5 seconds. Ask: “Is this kind? Is this needed? Is this true?” If no, stay quiet. Give that word to God.

Play 2: Talk to God Like He’s Your Coach
“God, help me today. Should I say this?”
Do it in your head between classes, at practice, before you sleep.

Play 3: Be God’s Favorite
Walk like you know you’re covered. Because you are.
That means no clapping back, no gossip, no tearing people down. Build people up instead.

Bottom line from Mom:
Talk less. Listen more. Trust God. Be kind.

BE GREAT EVERY DAY… WE ROLL WITH GOD

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

God, thank You for hearing even the words I don’t say.

Teach me to love silence. Help me hold my tongue when I want to clap back.

Take the hurtful, impatient, proud words I could have said. Make them a bouquet for You.

Fill my mouth with words like honey – sweet, healing, kind.

Help me trust You one day at a time. I overthink. You don’t. So I’ll let You lead.

Do in me what I cannot do for myself. Do immeasurably more than I ask or imagine.

I give You my words, my actions, my whole day. For Your glory.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

BIBLE VERSES THAT CAPTURE THIS MESSAGE

1.	James 1:19 – “Be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to become angry.”

That’s “be silent sometimes.”

1.	Psalm 46:10 – “Be still, and know that I am God.”

That’s “GET TO LOVE SILENCE.”

1.	Matthew 12:36 – “Everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken.”

That’s why we filter our words through God.

1.	Philippians 4:6-7 – “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God… will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

That’s “trust Him one day at a time.”