Wednesday Wisdom Tip

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.

—James 1:19

Do you have a clothes stealer in your house? I’ve got one in mine. When I find my new shirt in her laundry, my teeth tend to grind. If I’ve misplaced my favorite pair of jeans, I might find them under her bed.

You know what this makes me want to do? SCREAM!

James 1:19, 20 nails me: “Post this at all the intersections, dear friends: Lead with your ears, follow up with your tongue, and let anger straggle along in the rear. God’s righteousness doesn’t grow from human anger” (The Message). I’m feeling like God put this one in the Bible just for me.

Pay close attention to the order of those actions:

Quick to listen. (Maybe there is a good reason they did what made me so angry.)

Slow to speak. (Or text! I need to give my words time to run past God’s Word for approval.)

Slow to become angry. (I can still speak my feelings without blowing a gasket!)

 

Today, if you feel your blood starting to boil because she did it again, breathe deep and make a choice. Listen, talk less, and refuse to become angry.

 

Jesus, love is patient and kind, but I don’t always feel that way! I need you! Amen.

 

If you often let angry words fly, find a place to catch them. Journal, go for a walk, count to ten.

Lynn

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.