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b'How should we react when negative and unkind words are spoken to us or\\nabout us? Do we react in anger to defend ourselves or get involved in\\narguments in order to clear our reputations? Do we meditate on these\\nhurtful words and hold grudges? Years back, I would respond to such words\\nin a rude way, either to defend myself or to hurt the people who had spoken\\nhurtful words to me. I would meditate on the negative words so much that I\\nwould end up with bitterness in my heart. Then, I came across Philippians\\n4:8. In this passage, God\\u2019s Word tells us to think and meditate on good\\nthings. I began to see that I was doing a wrong thing by meditating on\\nwrong words. Instead of storing up the cruel words of others in our hearts,\\nwe can meditate on God\\u2019s Word. We can rest in the truth that He loves us\\nimmeasurably and rejoices over us with singing (Zephaniah 3:17). And when\\nwe are secure in the love God has for us\\u2014a love fully revealed in Jesus\\u2019s\\ndeath and resurrection\\u2014that love overflows into how we respond to the\\nunloving people around us. In our day-to-day encounters with people, we\\nhear unkind and negative words. In these situations, we are tempted to\\nfight back, to hate and hold grudges. But such a reaction will lead us to\\nsin against God and each other. James 1:20 warns us that the sinful anger\\nof humans does not work toward the righteousness of God. Instead of\\nreacting in sinful anger, we can rest in the love Jesus has for us and for\\nthose around us, and we can let that love direct our speech. Through the\\nHoly Spirit\\u2019s work in us, we can be \\u201cslow to speak and slow to become\\nangry\\u201d (James 1:19). Let\\u2019s follow the example of Jesus: when He was\\ninsulted by others, He did not insult them in return but instead trusted\\nGod, who is the just judge (1 Peter 2:21-23). \\u2022 Enid Adah Nyinomujuni \\u2022\\nWhen we hear gossip or unkind words about ourselves, we often want to get\\nrevenge. How could remembering Jesus\\u2019s love for you (and those who hurt\\nyou) bring peace and healing? May these words of my mouth and this\\nmeditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my\\nRedeemer. Psalm 19:14 (NIV)\\n\\xa0\\nRead Verses:\\nPs.19.14|Phil.4.8|Jas.1.19-Jas.1.20|1Pet.2.21-1Pet.2.23'