Hi
Suffering from Foot in Mouth disease recently? Today’s Holy Nougat addressees this very succinctly.
“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 NIV
The Only action requiring speed is the one thing many of us would rather not do. Or, when we do listen, we listen solely to rebut, rebuke or rationalize (our perspective). What if we listened to care, confirm and commiserate? True, there are moments where a word of challenge is needed; but as our goal ought to be building each other up, it should not be our primary goal.
Perhaps that’s why we ought to be slow to speak. Because we should be aiming at finding just the right word to uplift – and for many of us, it doesn’t come to us very naturally. And if kind words are not natural to our individual culture (our own ways of being), then we really ought to practice silence.
For words can hurt. Words can scar us permanently. Words can be misconstrued to generate offense or to inflict pain in others, sometimes unintentionally. But we can change that. We can use our words to speak life and hope.
Life as found in Christ. And in Christ alone. Can you imagine how different the world would be? Maybe there wouldn’t even be room for anger. Or at least a marked reduction in angry outbursts.
Today dear Jesus
We ask that You anoint us with the gift of silence as we Listen attentively to You, Your Spirit AND all whom you place in our lives. When given the opportunity to speak, help us uplift those around us. Please forgive our past sins of speaking out of turn. Be glorified through our speech we pray in Jesus name amen
In Christ’s love and grace . . .
