January 23rd Devotion
Sometimes I’ve Been Quick to Speak and Slow to Listen
By: Anne Peterson
Today’s Bible Verse: 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
It happened again. Instead of taking time to listen and respond kindly, I spoke in haste and reacted poorly.
When we are quick to speak, we don’t have a chance to hear what the other person is saying, and more importantly why they are saying it. When I am quick to answer, I react instead of responding with grace. God tells us to be kind and compassionate to one another and to forgive each other (Ephesians 4:32). But when we’re quick to speak and slow to listen, we don’t care how soft our words are, we just shoot them out.
It didn’t take long for God’s Spirit to tell me I was wrong. I knew I was. But my pride tried talking me out of apologizing. After all, what about what my husband said? Wasn’t I justified? I knew I wasn’t, but my feet were stuck in that pride.
I’m glad God gives us free access to his throne room, 24/7. We are not put on hold. We don’t have to worry that God won’t answer us when we send up a quick prayer. Our God is available and he graciously tells us to call on him. As Peter called out to God when he was slipping under the water and God responded (Matthew 14:30-31), God also responds to our calls for help immediately.
When we are quick to listen, the people who speak to us can tell we value them and what they have to say. People can often be impatient with others in this area. Everyone wants to know they matter, and that their words have merit. When we rush others, they feel insignificant. How do I know this? I’ve experienced it, and sadly, I have been impatient at times with those I love.\
Jesus always took time with those who spoke to him. Even when people brought children to
Jesus so he could pray for them, and the disciples rebuked those people, Jesus told the disciples to let the children come (Matthew 19:14). Every person is valued by God, even little people.
God works in our lives from the moment we trust in Jesus and what he did for us on the cross. Paul was confident God would complete the work he had started (Philippians 1:6). We are all works in progress. And sometimes we look unfinished. But God keeps working on us, nonetheless. Little by little, we are becoming like Jesus.
The day I was impatient, I eventually swallowed my pride and approached my husband.
“I was wrong to say what I did. Will you forgive me, Mike?”
And he did, again.
We need to submit to God’s nudges and let go of our need to be right, or whatever else we’re holding onto. When we release our grip, we’ll see God work in ways we never imagined. May we learn to be quick to listen and slow to speak, especially with the Lord. And may we open our hands so God can teach us all the things he wants us to learn. And then we’ll look like Jesus.
Open Your Hand
What is that you are holding in your hand
in your fist that is closed ever tight?
What is that you are purposely keeping from me,
for you feel that you have the right?
Don’t you know as you grow
in your walk with me,
I can see even things that you hide?
Oh if you only knew what’s in store for you,
you would open your hand so wide.
By: Anne Peterson
Today’s Bible Verse: 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
It happened again. Instead of taking time to listen and respond kindly, I spoke in haste and reacted poorly.
When we are quick to speak, we don’t have a chance to hear what the other person is saying, and more importantly why they are saying it. When I am quick to answer, I react instead of responding with grace. God tells us to be kind and compassionate to one another and to forgive each other (Ephesians 4:32). But when we’re quick to speak and slow to listen, we don’t care how soft our words are, we just shoot them out.
It didn’t take long for God’s Spirit to tell me I was wrong. I knew I was. But my pride tried talking me out of apologizing. After all, what about what my husband said? Wasn’t I justified? I knew I wasn’t, but my feet were stuck in that pride.
I’m glad God gives us free access to his throne room, 24/7. We are not put on hold. We don’t have to worry that God won’t answer us when we send up a quick prayer. Our God is available and he graciously tells us to call on him. As Peter called out to God when he was slipping under the water and God responded (Matthew 14:30-31), God also responds to our calls for help immediately.
When we are quick to listen, the people who speak to us can tell we value them and what they have to say. People can often be impatient with others in this area. Everyone wants to know they matter, and that their words have merit. When we rush others, they feel insignificant. How do I know this? I’ve experienced it, and sadly, I have been impatient at times with those I love.\
Jesus always took time with those who spoke to him. Even when people brought children to
Jesus so he could pray for them, and the disciples rebuked those people, Jesus told the disciples to let the children come (Matthew 19:14). Every person is valued by God, even little people.
God works in our lives from the moment we trust in Jesus and what he did for us on the cross. Paul was confident God would complete the work he had started (Philippians 1:6). We are all works in progress. And sometimes we look unfinished. But God keeps working on us, nonetheless. Little by little, we are becoming like Jesus.
The day I was impatient, I eventually swallowed my pride and approached my husband.
“I was wrong to say what I did. Will you forgive me, Mike?”
And he did, again.
We need to submit to God’s nudges and let go of our need to be right, or whatever else we’re holding onto. When we release our grip, we’ll see God work in ways we never imagined. May we learn to be quick to listen and slow to speak, especially with the Lord. And may we open our hands so God can teach us all the things he wants us to learn. And then we’ll look like Jesus.
Open Your Hand
What is that you are holding in your hand
in your fist that is closed ever tight?
What is that you are purposely keeping from me,
for you feel that you have the right?
Don’t you know as you grow
in your walk with me,
I can see even things that you hide?
Oh if you only knew what’s in store for you,
you would open your hand so wide.
Posted in Devotions
Recent
Archive
2023
January
January 2nd DevotionFollow-up to January 1st teachingJanuary 3rd DevotionJanuary 4th DevotionJanuary 5th DevotionJanuary 6th DevotionJanuary 9th DevotionFollow-up to January 8th teachingJanuary 10th DevotionJanuary 11th DevotionJanuary 12th DevotionJanuary 13th DevotionJanuary 16th DevotionJanuary 17th DevotionFollow-up to January 15th teachingJanuary 18th DevotionJanuary 19th DevotionJanuary 20th DevotionJanuary 23rd DevotionFollow-up to January 22nd teachingJanuary 24th DevotionJanuary 25th DevotionJanuary 26th DevotionJanuary 27th DevotionJanuary 30th DevotionFollow-up to January 29th teachingJanuary 31st Devotion
February
February 1st DevotionFebruary 2nd DevotionFebruary 3rd DevotionFebruary 6th DevotionFebruary 5th follow-upFebruary 7th DevotionFebruary 8th DevotionFebruary 9th DevotionFebruary 10th DevotionFebruary 13th DevotionFebruary 12th follow-upFebruary 14th DevotionFebruary 15th DevotionFebruary 17th DevotionFebruary 16th DevotionFebruary 19th Follow-upFebruary 20th DevotionFebruary 21st DevotionFebruary 22nd DevotionFebruary 23rd DevotionFebruary 24th DevotionFebruary 27th DevotionFebruary 26th Follow-upFebruary 28th Devotion
March
March 1st DevotionMarch 2nd DevotionMarch 3rd DevotionMarch 6th DevotionMarch 5th Follow-upMarch 7th, DevotionMarch 8th DevotionMarch 9th DevotionMarch 10th Devotion3-12-23 Follow-upMarch 13th Devotion3-14-23 DevotionMarch 15th DevotionMarch 16th DevotionMarch 17th DevotionMarch 20th DevotionMarch 19th Follow-upMarch 21st DevotionMarch 22nd DevotionMarch 23rd DevotionMarch 24th DevotionMarch 27th DevotionMarch 28th DevotionMarch 26th Follow-upMarch 29th DevotionMarch 29th DevotionMarch 30th Devotion
April
April 2nd Follow-upApril 3rd DevotionApril 4th DevotionApril 5th DevotionApril 6th DevotionApril 7th DevotionApril 9th Follow-upApril 10th DevotionApril 11th DevotionApril 12th DevotionApril 13th DevotionApril 14th DevotionApril 17th DevotionApril 16th Follow-upApril 18th DevotionApril 19th DevotionApril 20th DevotionApril 21st DevotionApril 24th DevotionApril 23rd follow-upApril 25th DevotionApril 26th Devotion
No Comments