Who's Talking?

Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.
James 1:19 NLT

When we're angry, are we able to listen to the other person? When we're angry, we're usually too busy firing off a reaction to hear. Even if we are not actively voicing our protest, our thoughts are fully engaged to fervidly or passionately react. This is not the best way to communicate.

If we're angry all the time, we are not listening to any voice response save our own. The next verse of our text tells us that human anger does NOT produce God's righteousness in our lives. So what do we do? We know our own righteousness is as filthy rags (Isaiah 64). The Message Bible instructs us to lead with our ears. To make it a priority to hear, to LISTEN. 

Who's talking - you or God? Your pride and anger or His Truths? Who do you want to hear? Then be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.

Prayer:

Father,

           Help us, O God. Without You, we are never able to do this. Give us clean hands and pure hearts so that we are able to walk righteously before You, quietly and at peace. We want to be able to hear You when You speak. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen