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Say Nothing That Will Wound or Grieve, June 25
Emotional Maturity Brings Happiness
For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his
tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: let him
eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.
1
Peter 3:10, 11
If the lips were constantly guarded so that no guile could corrupt
them, what an amount of suffering, degradation, and misery might be
prevented. If we would say nothing to wound or grieve, except in nec-
essary reproof of sin, that God might not be dishonored, how much
misunderstanding, bitterness, and anguish would be prevented. If we
would speak words of good cheer, words of hope and faith in God, how
much light we might shed upon the pathway of others, to be reflected
in still brighter beams upon our own souls.... The plan of salvation,
as revealed in the Holy Scriptures, opens up a way whereby man may
secure happiness and prolong his days upon the earth, as well as enjoy
the favor of Heaven and secure that future life which measures with the
life of God.
Many persons complain of Providence because of the discomfort and
inconvenience which they suffer, when this is the sure result of their own
course. They seem to feel that they are ill-treated of God, when they
themselves are alone responsible for the ills which they endure. Our
kind and merciful heavenly Father has established laws, which, obeyed,
would promote physical, mental, and moral health....
God requires us to yield our own will to His; but He does not ask
us to give up anything that it would be for our good to retain. No one
can be happy while he devotes his life to selfish gratification. A course
of obedience to God is the wisest course for us to pursue; for it brings
peace, content, and happiness as a sure result....
If men would place themselves in right relation to God by heeding
the counsel of His Word, they would escape innumerable dangers and
experience a peace and content that would render life a joy rather than a
burden.
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