Have you ever wondered how you open the door to chaos and confusion? It’s usually one of two ways!

The first one is what we confess and say with our mouths. What we confess or speak out loud is what we’re saying to the world around us. We’re saying, I agree with this. I own it, and it’s part of me. We’re agreeing with the mess, which allows all that mess to become part of us and create continuing chaos and confusion.

One of the things I’m very careful of is what words I say. I’m not trying to make it fake, and I’m not trying to lie. I’ve spent years learning and practicing to pause and choose carefully what I say. If you think back to the beginning of time, God created by speaking. He spoke, and it became. Our spoken words are very powerful. As you come to learn the power of every word you say, you will treat them more carefully.

How have I grown this skill? Many years ago, a respected mentor, Steven Scott, told me about his mentor encouraging him to read one chapter in the book of Proverbs every day for two years. He promised Steve that if he did that, it would transform his life from one of repeated failures to one of great success. I took that ‘challenge’ and began reading a chapter in Proverbs every day (it takes less than 10 minutes). This gets you through Proverbs (often called the Book of Wisdom) once a month. I did that almost every day for about 10 years! One of my core values is pursuing wisdom. Today, more than ever, with all of the confusion, chaos, and “artificial intelligence”, I am grateful for the many years I’ve spent learning from the book of Proverbs and learning to hear God’s voice.

How do you do this? Just like I did, you start with a baby step, one day at a time! I love the Passion Translation of the Bible—it makes reading Proverbs easy and fun! Click here to Order.

The second way we open the door to confusion is with our thoughts. I was working with a client who is very good at monitoring and stewarding her words, and yet she was dealing with an undergirding sense of anxiety. As I talked to her, I said, “You do a great job stewarding your words, but what about your thoughts? Just because a thought comes doesn’t mean you must entertain, think, or loop on it. Treat your thoughts just like you do your words!

Let me give you my three favorite tips for dealing with my thoughts:

When a thought comes, pause and ask the question, “Well, Lord, is this true?” It’s amazing how often you’ll get a no because, if it’s causing confusion, God is not the author of confusion.

Second, I ask, “God, does this line up with your word?” There’s always a way through what we’re going through, but that path has to be directed by His word.

Finally, I ask, “Does this line up with my core values? If it doesn’t line up with my core values after I’ve asked the other two, then I know it isn’t true. Now I know I can replace it.

Finally, remember these two concepts.

You can steward your thoughts, and you can steward your words.

When you don’t, you willingly, maybe unknowingly, open the door to chaos and confusion. Isn’t it time to shut the door to chaos and confusion by doing something that’s just a decision or an interruption away? Learn to steward your thoughts and steward your words. Spend a little time in the book of Proverbs every day – if you have the time, journal on what you learn. Today, more than ever, we all need Wisdom. I consider Proverbs the timeless and best source of wisdom I can draw on.