We all have those coworkers and family members that employ us as sounding boards because they are in need of “wise counsel.”

They berate the incompetent boss who:

“Couldn’t lead his way out of a paper bag with a map, a compass, and a prophet.”

The sister-in-law that:

“Runs her mouth entirely too much, cleans her house entirely too little, and blows all of my money.”

And the friend:

“I can wait for you to meet because you’ll see exactly what I’ve been talking about, and why I think I’m going to have to cut him off.”

And you sit there doing one of three things:

1. Throwing in a few supportive, “wow, no way, that’s horrible, you should say something, I would never put up with that.”
2. Fully engaging and even suggesting ways to respond to an offense, address and offender, or simply kick the person to the proverbial curb for an unpardonable.
3. Listening sympathetically, praying silently, and only saying those things you feel God is leading you to say, which usually involves directives to forgive, forget, and restore.

If your approach looks more like number one or two, chances are you’re loyal to a fault. And in our desire to comfort and counsel, oftentimes we’re displeasing God by putting our noses in matters and our tongues on people that have nothing to do with us.

Many Christians get caught up in office gossip, family feuds, and friend-on-friend combats out of misguided loyalty. We say it’s not gossip because “we’re offering counsel,” “It’s not sinful because our intentions are good,” and “it’s not harmful because our comments and discussions are limited to the individual that brought the matter to us.”

Yet, we’re not only guilty of judging situations with bias information and commenting on people we know little to nothing about, but more importantly, compromising our Christian testimonies.

How many times has someone gone back and said that you were totally in agreement with them when that wasn’t quite how you put it, or accused you of telling them to do something that resulted in another party being hurt, or added you to the list of “people” who listened and weighed in on a matter that resulted in the death of a relationship.

How many times has an onlooker watched you and wondered, “Why is she even getting involved, I thought she was a Christian” or heard you were in agreement with someone, who in actuality was the offender but conveniently left out some key details when recounting his version to you.

How often have your words been twisted and spun into something ugly and judgmental, and no matter how you try to clean it up the fact remains that you did say something akin to what was reported. And how many times have you gotten caught up and erroneously gave emotional advice simply because you were outraged and seared by the pain your loved one endured, but in hindsight, you wish you never said a word because your rash counsel caused more damage than good?

The fact is we owe no man anything but Christ. And I have found that it is best for Christians to be slow to speak and quick to listen. Loose lips have gotten many of us in heaps of trouble over trivial matters on a job, in our families, and amongst friends.

When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise. (Proverbs 10:19 NASB)

Therefore, let your “wisdom” be found in your silence. And in the words of a man of God I greatly respect, always remember, when you don’t know quite what to say:

“Silence cannot be misquoted!”

How differently would we live if we believed that every event of our lives—from the happy to the tragic to the mundane—was part of a meticulous and purposeful design in which all the elements intertwined with breathtaking precision?

That is the question bestselling author and internationally known speaker, Ravi Zacharias answers in his book, The Grand Weaver. If you are looking for a sizzling summer read to soak up under the sun, a page-turner to track through the subway with, or simply something casual that may take you three months, if you read a chapter every two weeks, but won’t bore you to literal pieces, this is the book for you!

I picked this book up a few years ago after Dr. Zacharias, a renowned apologetic, visited my university and presented the most compelling argument for Christianity that I had ever heard.

It is an understatement to say that this scholar, teacher, author, and radio personality is absolutely brilliant, because after one minute under his voice it becomes evident that he is not only a genius, but undoubtedly spirit-filled and Holy Ghost led. This book is evidence of his masterful ability to remind Christians and skeptics alike that God is intimately involved in every detail of our lives.

There is one story about a mother who took a job as an inspector for Firestone in Akron, Ohio during World War II. As a result of her scrutinizing expertise, a young sailor escaped drowning twice because of a life-saving device that she personally inspected. He was able to return to his family on leave to tell of his narrow expect—that sailor was her son!

Did God orchestrate a career path of a mother in a way that would save her son’s lives? And if God can weave the supernatural out of an ordinary factory job, why can’t he do the same out of all the threads of our lives?

Personally, I was most moved by page 50 where Dr. Zacharias includes an elaborate breakdown of Psalm 23. I must confess that I cried as I read it. Yet again, I was reminded of how God loves us with such perfection:

The Lord is my Shephard—that’s relationship!

I shall not be in want—that’s supply!

He makes me lie down in green pastures—that rest!

He leads me beside quiet waters—that’s refreshment!

He restores my soul—that’s healing!

He guides me in the paths of righteousness—that’s guidance!

For His name sake—that’s purpose!

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death—that’s testing!

I will fear no evil—that’s protection!

For you are with me—that’s faithfulness!

Your rod and the staff, they comfort me—that’s discipline!

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies—that’s hope!

You anoint my head with oil—that’s consecration!

My cup overflows—that’s abundance!

Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life—that’s blessing!

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord—that’s security!

Forever—that’s eternity!

                                                AUTHOR OF ELABORATED MATERIAL UNKNOWN

If you’ve read the book, would love your feedback!

Are you familiar with Dr. Zacharias?

Do you believe God is intimately involved in every detail of your life?

Can God turn a mess into a miracle, a test into a testimony?

Has God miraculously orchestrated an event in your life?

Miracles!...In a word, this is one of the main reasons I love being a member of the prayer band ministry at my church. People contact us from around the world with fascinating stories about God's triumphal exploits and his never-ceasing ability to set his children up for surreal experiences that perfect character, impart hope, and increase faith--stories that prove the Lord is intimately involved in our daily lives.

My favorite are the testimonies that remind me God doesn't just like me, he is crazy about me and is diligently working behind the scenes setting me up for blessings.

Like the day I received a call from a demure man named John. A Floridian native and overworked physician, John had very little knowledge about the infamous NYC, but heard about a humble preacher with a modest church in Brooklyn filled with faithful intercessors.

So, between patients John decided to steal away one afternoon, lock his office, and call my church's prayer band in hope that he'd connect with a fire-filled prayer warrior that could touch-and-agree with him for the healing of his beloved mother-in-law. She was a woman who had spent the better part of her years selflessly serving others simply because she wanted her lifestyle to teach people about the unconditional, undeserved, and unfailing love of Christ. She was also a woman who spent many of those years praying for John before she ever met him

Many moons ago John's mother-in-law decided that her women's prayer group would join forces with another local church group to storm the gates of heaven for their children and community. As expected, over the weeks God showed up and all of the women were not only blessed by his presence, but also by the overall fellowship experience. In no time, they had committed to memory the names of all of the children represented in the group and their respective prayer needs.

During the very last gathering one of the mother's closed out the meeting with a wonderful testimony about her son, a recent med school graduate who she was very proud of because God had kept him throughout the entire process. John's mother-in-law listened with glee as usual, but this time she heard a small still voice say, "that's your daughter's husband."

God speaking to her wasn't what surprised her; she was well acquainted with his voice and his leading. But the fact that her daughter was only twelve-years-old and her prayer partner's son was pushing thirty not only alarmed her, but made her question whether or not she had heard God clearly. Many nights were  spent on her knees praying that God would bless her daughter with a good husband, someone that came from a Christian family and was secure enough to support a wife and children. But, she never thought God would send someone over fifteen years her daughter's senior. Then God said it again. And this time there was no doubting that she had heard correctly--Her daughter would not only be married to a doctor one day but he would be her prayer partner's son.

This tidbit of information she'd have to keep to herself she thought, and did so for almost twenty years--until the day her family decided to go house hunting. The girls were grown now and she and her husband thought it'd be nice to move closer to at least one of their children. The eldest didn't live too far and her community was gated, which was a definite plus for any elderly couple concerned about safety, so they decided to make a family trip out of it and call their younger daughter to join them.

Shortly after pulling up to the gate and casually perusing the names of the residents, John's mother-in-law stumbled across the name of the young man whom she had prayed over for almost two decades--the med student. Convinced that he was married with children, she decided not to mention a word about her history with his mother and that wonderful day when she heard God pronounce the future of this young man with her daughter.

Meanwhile, within this development there lived a troll. Well, that was what this local pediatrician affectionately referred to himself as. Not because he wasn't handsome, athletic, and quite accomplished, but because he had been praying for a wife for more years than he cared to remember and some odd reason had very little "luck" finding the one.

His work hours were long, most of his patients were potty training or wearing training bras, and being that he was a Christian his social pastimes didn't involve picking up women at bars. Disgruntled and disconnected, there were many nights when he wondered if God even heard him, and if he did, than whether God even cared.

This particular afternoon was no different. While enjoying his coveted down time the doctor whined to God about how great his life could be if he had a family. A few hops down a young woman was also whining, only she was in a different kind of pain. Some mysterious bug bit her while she was visiting her sister, and unexpectedly her leg ballooned. Fortunately, a neighbor informed her that she should run up the street to the house of a nearby doctor to be checked out. She hobbled and grunted unfazed by the fact that she was about to knock on the door of a complete stranger. She was in pain and had never had a reaction like this from anything, so if this person could help her, than she had no problems with asking.

"That day my wife came right up to my door and knocked," John explained. And, my her didn't even know we met until she returned to her daughter's home some hours later. Funny thing, the mother-in-law didn't tell them she knew they were meant to be until the day of their rehearsal dinner.

John closed his story by saying, "I'm telling you all of this so that you can fully understand the type of woman my mother-in-law is."

But, no explanation was needed. I knew that God was once again using the testimony of a caller in need to provoke my faith into action and to show me that the delay of an answer to a prayer does not mean denial. And I thoroughly understood the nature of the woman I was about to pray for. She was a believer who had first hand experience with the power of prayer, and she knew that all God needed her to do her to do was have faith! He didn't need her match making, planting thoughts, or dropping hints.

Her daughter's love story was meant to be a heavenly hook up!

Do you believe in soul mates? Do you believe that God pro-actively connects people?