Learning God's Order of Operations: How Being Quick to Listen, Slow to Speak, and Slow to Get Angry Transforms Our Hearts
- meetgodattheedgeof
- Jan 8
- 2 min read
James 1:19-20
[19] Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. [20] Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.
Anger is something I struggle with. I am a little embarrassed to admit my kids push my buttons at times and I lose control and raise my voice. Once I've calmed down I'm ashamed of my reaction and will apologize.
How do we do better in the heat of the moment?
We need to first start with the understanding that our anger is wrong. Humans do not have the ability to produce righteous anger, so every time we get angry it's a sin. I feel like relying on God to help us avoid issues and calm down is the best we can be.
I'm hopeful that over time we can slow our reaction time and allow some of what we've learned to keep us from even going down that path to destruction. What will help is being sure to pray and ask for forgiveness each time, as well as asking whoever we got angry with for forgiveness.
I find some of the time misunderstandings are the reason people get angry, and after we realize the truth, we see if we had just asked some questions or waited it could have been avoided.
Quick to listen! Slow to speak! Slow to get angry! Look how awesome this is! It's an order of operation for those of us trying to do better! When we practice being quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry, we're following God's step-by-step process for our hearts.
When you can feel anger welling up inside, stop and be "quick to Listen." Give them time to finish or explain what they mean or why they did what they did. We would want the same if we misspoke or realized we said it wrong.
Don't react and fire back possibly harmful words, be "slow to Talk." As soon as we think we understand what they mean we fire off our response. Usually it isn't pretty or kind especially if we feel they were rude or disrespectful. Keeping our mouth shut just a little longer can avoid hurtful words.
If we follow these steps it will help us be "slow to get angry." Our anger reaction time will slow considerably and give us time to think it through instead of reacting.
I've made a commitment to putting this into practice and watching the Lord change my heart. If you feel this, pray about it and watch the Lord honor your commitment.
Thank you, Father, for another day. Amen.
Ephesians 4:26-27
[26] And "don't sin by letting anger control you." Don't let the sun go down while you are still angry, [27] for anger gives a foothold to the devil.
