If you are like me, you have probably said things that you wish you hadn’t. You know how it happens…either as a joke or you are upset, something just comes out of your mouth, and you go “Oh no…”! Yeah, you just wish you’d not said anything. So often we are slow to listen to people…but we are quick to speak. In his letter to the church at large, James writes that you must be quick to listen…slow to speak and slow to get angry. And that’s where I need to grow in my life. To not rush to get my two cents in or to try to be funny and speak without thinking…and then looking at the person’s face and realize that I should have just kept my mouth shut. The problem with being quick to speak is that those words can never be taken back. You can apologize and ask for forgiveness and that is the right thing to do. But once spoken…those words have become a part of that person’s history no matter what you say. So I’m going to ask God to just slow my response time down when I’m talking to people and to really focus on what they are saying and hear not only the words but maybe even sense a bit of what’s in their heart at that time. And to just consider what impact my words might have on the one hearing me. God tells us to really be active as listeners but to slow down those responses and comments and critiques of other people. Just thinking before you speak might be the most loving thing you can do for folks this day. Here’s our Bible verse for today…
James 1:19 NLT Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.
Remember I’m praying for you!
With love, PJ
James 1:19 NLT Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.
Remember I’m praying for you!
With love, PJ