Melt it...

If your enemies are hungry, give them bread to eat; and if they are thirsty, give them water to drink; for you will heap coals of fire on their heads, and the Lord will reward you. (Proverbs 25:21-22, NRSV)

Charles Bridges, a 19th-century English scholar noted: “Surround the intractable (stubborn) metal beneath and above; not only putting it over the fire, but heaping coals of fire upon it. Few hearts are so obdurate (immovable), as not to melt under the mighty energy of patient, self-denying, burning love.”

Like “fiery coals,” acts of kindness can warm the hearts of opposers and perhaps melt down their hostility. Kind actions can win people over to a more favourable attitude toward God’s people and the Bible message they preach. The apostle Peter wrote: “Live an exemplary life among the natives so that your actions will refute their prejudices. Then they'll be won over to God's side and be there to join in the celebration when he arrives.” —1 Pet. 2:12.

Real wisdom, God's wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honour.

Your mind is the door to your spirit. That is why whatever words and thoughts you allow go through your mind, unchecked, will be deposited in your spirit. This is the reason you have to screen and filter what goes through your mind to your spirit.

Every day, we hear words, see things, and receive all kinds of information, positive and negative. Thus, you need to mount guard on your heart and not allow your spirit receive and process the wrong information. Never allow your heart dwell on anything you hear, feel or see that is inconsistent with the Word of God. The Hebrew word translated "guard" in Proverbs 4:23 gives the picture of a stronghold mounted over something valuable. We can as well paraphrase the scripture this way: "Mount a garrison over your heart, for it affects everything you do."