What a privilege

Every other week we have a bible study/coffee morning for the ladies.

I was asked to bring a message to the ladies on the first Thursday in January. This is a great priviledge and said yes straight away.
This was my first time to talk before the ladies and I felt a little nervous.

I was drawn to proverbs 16.1-9

Especially the first verse -The preparation of the heart belong to man, But the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.

Here is a summary of what I talked about and I would love you the readers to add your thoughts please..

All the verses are based on the same theme which is that God gives us freedom to plan and prepare many things but it is He that enables us do do them.
What this reflects is that even though God is all powerful and He can do whatever He wants, He still uses ordinary people like you and I to do this work.

I always go the Bible in times of need for guidance as the Bible is Gods word to us and while we may plan many things we must always check ourselves against God's standards.
Verse 16.1 is paticulary about preparing to speak. The second half of this verse reminds us that as we actually do something e.g speaking etc, it is God who enables us and it is God brings succcess in what we say .
This is a great encouragment when we find ourselves unsure as to what we should say that God will assist us as we speak, and that God will bring good out of all things.
This verse also reminds us that preparationis so important and that as Christians we should always be thinking people, as the saying goes " make sure brain is in gear before you engage tongue.
When preparing to talk to somone e/g having coffee, bumping into people etc we should hold Gods promises in mind we must have faith.
Most old Bible comentators say that seeing that God has made our mouths He knows best how we should use them.
Conclusion is summed up in verse 9
This is a reality of being a Christian and of walking with God. That we know and can see in our lives that God has directed our steps.

This was a really powerful chapter for me personally as I do find it hard to be silent.. There is a time to speak and a time to be silent.