Ever wish you could be one of those witty people who always have the perfect comeback? I am more like Forrest Gump, who is still answering a question twenty minutes ago. It’s only after I’ve driven away do I come up with the perfect one-liner. If you are like me, Jesus has the best advice for you. Rely on Him for the perfect words to say.
Luke 21:14-15
Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict.
Don’t Stress It
Jesus is prepping the Disciples for what life is going to be like after Him. They are going to be persecuted and brought before judges and rulers. He tells them not to worry about defending themselves beforehand but to rely upon the Holy Spirit to give them the words to say. When they do that, they will speak in such a way that it will dumbfound their enemies.
Ask the Holy Spirit
This promise of giving you the perfect words to say holds for you as well. If you are being persecuted for your faith or people are challenging you in your beliefs, don’t stress about it. Take it to the Lord and ask the Holy Spirit to give you what you need to say. You will be surprised at how quickly He can answer.
The Perfect Words to Say
Can I give you some practical advice? When someone wants to argue with you about Jesus, resist getting defensive. Paul reasoned with people from the Scriptures (Acts 17:2). We can’t let our blood pressure get the best of us because it decreases our ability to respond calmly and rationally. The second thing I want you to do is to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger. Many times your adversary wants to antagonize you because they get a rise out of it. Just be calm and hear them out. Don’t be thinking about your response. You will find that God is ready to speak through you at that moment.