His mentors all told him the same thing. Calm down. He knew it. From his earliest years, he could not control his emotions and the resulting words that flowed from his mouth. Yet, in order to have sustained success, even to simply keep his position with the team, he was going to have to figure out something.
Proverbs 17:27–“He who restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.”
As he read those words, sent to him in a text from a former coach, he began to wonder just how he could be that kind of man. Texting back, he asked his mentor to help him. Here was the response:
Surrender. All of you to Jesus. Give him control. Ask him to take over.
Pause. Before you say anything. Every time. Be willing to say nothing.
Think. Consider well the potential impact of your words.
Pray. For the cool spirit this verse describes, to have more understanding and wisdom.
Practice. It won’t happen overnight. Start where you are. Make the change one step at a time.
Lord Jesus, I want to be a man who restrains his words, who has knowledge, who has a cool spirit, who has understanding. Do your work in me. Amen.
