What Should I Say?

<p>When I stopped to browse through a box of books marked &ldquo;C.S. Lewis&rdquo; at a used bookshop, the store owner appeared. As we chatted about the available titles, I wondered if he might be interested in the faith that inspired much of Lewis&rsquo;s writing. I prayed silently for guidance. Information from a biography came to mind, and we began to discuss how C. S. Lewis&rsquo;s character pointed to God. In the end, I was thankful that a quick prayer had reoriented our conversation to spiritual matters. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>Nehemiah paused to pray before a pivotal moment in a conversation with King Artaxerxes in Persia. The king had asked how he could help Nehemiah who was distraught over Jerusalem&rsquo;s destruction. Nehemiah was the king&rsquo;s servant and therefore in no position to ask for favors, but he needed one&mdash;a big one. He wanted to restore Jerusalem. So, he &ldquo;prayed to the God of heaven&rdquo; before asking to leave his job so he could reestablish the city (Nehemiah 2:4&ndash;5). The king consented and even agreed to help Nehemiah make travel arrangements and procure timber for the project.</p> <p>The Bible encourages us to pray &ldquo;on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests&rdquo; (Ephesians 6:18). This includes moments when we need courage, self-control, or sensitivity. Praying before we speak helps us give God control of our attitude and our words.</p> <p>How might He want to direct your words today? Ask Him and find out!</p>