“Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters! Let every person be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger. For human anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness.” ~ James 1:19-20 NET
What if we took time to really listen? What if we waited to process what we have heard? What if we responded with respect, patience, grace, and love?
Many times we allow anger to take over our lives and we end up bitter and broken. We will blame everyone for our unhappiness and some even brag about how they have “told somebody about themselves”. Yet, we fail to check ourselves and what we’ve done to add to the negative.
What are you adding to the negative? Is God pleased with your anger and how you’ve “told somebody about themselves”?
Listen: Perhaps if we took the time to listen, we will be able to hear. Talking too much and listening too little causes us to assume what we think others are saying. In return anger can come in for lack of effective communication. Take the time to listen!
Wait: Having patience can be hard at times. It’s important that we take time to wait, gather/process our thoughts, and think of what we will say! Slow down, WAIT, rushing often causes us to miss what’s right in front of us!
Respond: Once we have fully listened, use patience to process our thoughts, now we can respond with respect, patience, grace, and love. It’s important that we respond in a way that’s pleasing to God.
“Remember this, my dear brothers and sisters: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and should not get angry easily. An angry person doesn’t do what God approves of.” ~James 1:19-20 GW
Lord help us to be better listeners! We want to be hearers and doers of the word! Help us to respect one another by listening, waiting, and responding! Let us be reminded that Silent and Listen have the same letters, and they work well together! When we face issues today, if we listen, wait, and respond like James 1:19-20, it’s like stomping on the devil’s head and it gives you the glory, Jesus. We are grateful for your righteousness, Lord! In Jesus Name!
Written by: Min. Angie Taylor-Reames
