40 Days Pondering the Fruit of the Spirit
Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
40 Days PONDERING the FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT
Day 30 | SELF-CONTROL
40 Days PONDERING the FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT
Day 30 | SELF-CONTROL
SELF-CONTROL
James 1:19
“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.” (NIV)
How often have YOU said something that you almost immediately wish you could take back? The words you spoke were probably hurtful, angry, or just plain wrong.
EVERYONE has to work on controlling that part of our body so capable of causing hurt and evil – the TONGUE.
James – Jesus’ half-brother and now the leader of the church in Jerusalem after Jesus’ ascension – writes this to church members everywhere and in every time zone and time in history.
He starts with EVERYONE. That means only EVERYONE.
Then he emphasizes that we need to be quick to LISTEN. This is in contrast to our more common desire… to TALK. Most people like to talk and talk and talk and talk. And for the “talkaholic,” talking is often a way of asking for attention, praise, acceptance, and love.
Years ago, when I was in college, I remember reading a book entitled “The Awesome Power of the Listening Ear.” Some of the takeaways stay with me today, including the ability to HELP people more by listening more. In one-on-one coaching, I find it an invaluable asset.
People today can help one another by listening more and talking less.
James understood that formula and wanted all of us to be “quick to listen” (meaning: be a careful, thoughtful listener), “slow to speak” (meaning: carefully choose your words), and be “slow to anger” (meaning: being patient, considerate and forgiving).
The following verse 20 from the Amplified is also instructive: “for the [resentful, deep-seated] anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God [that standard of behavior which He requires from us].”
Prayer: Father God, I desire to be a genuine follower of Jesus, and I know that the kind of self-control qualities listed here are part of how I become a better follower. Help me, show me, teach me. Thank You. Amen.
James 1:19
“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.” (NIV)
How often have YOU said something that you almost immediately wish you could take back? The words you spoke were probably hurtful, angry, or just plain wrong.
EVERYONE has to work on controlling that part of our body so capable of causing hurt and evil – the TONGUE.
James – Jesus’ half-brother and now the leader of the church in Jerusalem after Jesus’ ascension – writes this to church members everywhere and in every time zone and time in history.
He starts with EVERYONE. That means only EVERYONE.
Then he emphasizes that we need to be quick to LISTEN. This is in contrast to our more common desire… to TALK. Most people like to talk and talk and talk and talk. And for the “talkaholic,” talking is often a way of asking for attention, praise, acceptance, and love.
Years ago, when I was in college, I remember reading a book entitled “The Awesome Power of the Listening Ear.” Some of the takeaways stay with me today, including the ability to HELP people more by listening more. In one-on-one coaching, I find it an invaluable asset.
People today can help one another by listening more and talking less.
James understood that formula and wanted all of us to be “quick to listen” (meaning: be a careful, thoughtful listener), “slow to speak” (meaning: carefully choose your words), and be “slow to anger” (meaning: being patient, considerate and forgiving).
The following verse 20 from the Amplified is also instructive: “for the [resentful, deep-seated] anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God [that standard of behavior which He requires from us].”
Prayer: Father God, I desire to be a genuine follower of Jesus, and I know that the kind of self-control qualities listed here are part of how I become a better follower. Help me, show me, teach me. Thank You. Amen.