Hold Your Tongue - Just Listen

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

(James 1:19-20)

I’m sure everyone knows someone who loses their temper at the drop of a hat, no matter the reason. I used to be that kind of person, and I still struggle against it from time to time. God wants me to forgive those who might cause me grief. Whenever I quickly respond to a perceived slight, any righteousness I might have had, flies out the window, and I’ve moved on to the sinful human need for retaliation.

A quick response is quite often worse than the original transgression in God’s eyes. So, when my temper starts to get the better of me, I try to stop for a few moments and think. Quite often, if I give myself that few moments, I see that my angry response isn’t going to accomplish anything; it only makes things worse. With God’s help, now I’m trying to give everyone the benefit of the doubt. Some might think that’s a sign of weakness but it’s actually the opposite.

Whenever I’m having a disagreement with someone, God wants me to keep my mouth shut and listen to the other person’s point of view. I have the tendency to be thinking about what I’m going to say next instead of really listening to what someone is saying. That’s when I’ll blurt out something that makes little sense or is hurtful. There’s an old saying that God gave us two ears and one mouth, so we should listen twice as much as we speak.

For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.

(Psalm 139:13-14)

Lord God, is there a way for us to say thank you in a way that doesn’t sound trite or unfeeling? Can we praise you enough to show an adequate amount of gratitude for saving us from the darkness of our sins? Even though you created the whole universe and everything in it, you take the time knit us together in our mother’s womb. The complexity of the life on earth is mind boggling. We are the product of the master designer and we are still learning new things about ourselves all the time. How do we wrap our minds around that, Lord? We thank you for the intimacy you show us at every turn. We know you are real because you are such a personal God. You seek us, like a shepherd going after a lost sheep. When we’re found, you rejoice. Is there another god who does that? Of course not, because you are the one true God of heaven and earth. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen!