Proverbs 23:9 (NLT)
“Don’t waste your breath on fools, for they will despise the wisest advice.”

The Strategy of Silence

The Hebrew word for fool used here is kesil, which literally means “thickheaded.” This isn’t just someone who doesn’t know the truth; it’s someone who has no desire to do right or do better. You must decide today that you will not spend your divine energy on a person who has no intention of changing. They won’t receive wisdom—in their current state, they can’t.
These “thickheaded” individuals are experts at the lure. They will draw you into an argument just for the sake of the friction. They aren’t seeking the Truth; they are seeking the “high” of seeing you get worked up, flustered, and frustrated. They feel no regret for the time they steal from you. To step back from this lure takes immense self-control, but your “wise pearls” are too valuable to be trampled in the mud of a fruitless debate.

The Practice:

Protecting Your Pearls

1. Discipline the “Lure” Response**
Save your wisdom for those who hunger for it. It takes more strength to be silent than it does to “prove you’re right.” When you encounter a kesil, realize that your silence isn’t a sign of defeat; it’s a sign of stewardship. You are choosing to save your breath for the mission God has given you.
2. The Discernment Defense
Ask God for the discernment to distinguish between a “sincere seeker” and a “foolish talker.” This must be a daily prayer. With so much noise in the world and so many people talking, it is easy to get distracted and “caught up” in things that have nothing to do with your calling. Remember: You can’t save a fool. In fact, you can’t save anyone—only God can save. Your job is to be a witness, not a cosmic mechanic.
3. The Mirror Check
The most dangerous fool is the one in the mirror. Check the “thickness” of your own head today. Is there wisdom you are currently ignoring? Are you so stuck on what you want that you are unable to see the “Angel in the road” or hear God’s warning to stop and turn around? (Numbers 22:22). Don’t become the very person the Proverb is warning you to avoid.

Today’s Declaration:

“I am a steward of my breath and my energy today. I refuse to bite the bait of a ‘thickheaded’ argument or waste my pearls on those who despise the Truth. I am sharpening my discernment to know when to speak and when to walk away. I am keeping my head soft toward God and my heart focused on the mission. No more distractions—only direction!”

Your breath is a gift from God; don’t spend it on someone who doesn’t value the Giver. Today is a great day to make a Fresh Start!
God bless,
+Bishop Kris