Have you been struggling with taking that one moment before you speak and then you just let it out and it turns out badly? Or are you going, going, going and you're just not taking the time to listen to God, your friends, your family, even your own body? Or maybe you're finding yourself constantly getting angry easily and you don't even know how to handle it.
For the next five weeks, we're delving into James 1:19-20. It says, "“My dear brothers and sisters, always be willing to listen and slow to speak. Do not become angry easily, because anger will not help you live the right kind of life God wants.” (NCV)
We'll look at the five instructions pulled from this passage:
1 - Willingly Listening
2 - Slow to Speak
3 - Slow to Anger
4 - Nurturing Calmness, Patience, and Self-Control
5 - Living the Right Kind of Life
Photo by Kenny Eliason on Unsplash
James starts out saying we should be willing to listen and THEN slow to speak. Before we decide what we’re going to say, we need to actively listen. To first listen to God speak, be open to wise advice, or allow our friends and family to share – before we say or sign a word about ourselves – takes practice.
James tells us to always be willing to listen. It’s easy to want to be the one who speaks or to be too busy to listen, but God wants us to be willing to listen. In Psalms, we see that God listens to us. If God listens to us and provides a way for us to talk with Him, then we should praise Him by listening back. Proverbs says that we should listen to advice and instruction. God calls us to accept that we don’t know everything and let those wiser to guide us. Paul reminds us to care about others and they’re needs, which takes a willingness to listen. He also tells us to honor God with our bodies, this includes taking care of it by listening to pain and exhaustion, among other things.
Being a willing listener allows us these things: First, to experience representing how Jesus listens. Listening is a way to serve others and to show how Jesus cares. Second, it helps us to be wiser. Listening – as we learn about others’ lives, get instruction, and allow God’s voice to share His knowledge with us – increases our wisdom. Third, it allows us to hear the great and hidden things that God wants to tell us, while helping us know His voice. This should encourage us to take more time to be still in His presence.
Here’s what being a willing listener is not: Simply listening – It’s also absorbing and then acting on what you hear, which might be applying God’s Word to your life, helping a friend, or praying over advice. Accepting everything you hear – It’s okay to listen to someone’s advice, but you should only accept what aligns with the Bible. Using what you hear to hurt others – Whether you hear something directly from the person or not, you shouldn’t use listening skills for gossip or to find ways to be evil. Dwell on all that you hear – Listening to others can be overwhelming, so be sure to keep your mind refreshed with things that are good.
God's Guidance:
James 1:19 (NCV) – “My dear brothers and sisters, always be willing to listen and slow to speak. Do not become angry easily,”
Psalm 116:1-2 (NIV) – “I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.”
Proverbs 19:20 (NIRV) – “Listen to advice and accept correction. In the end you will be counted among those who are wise.”
Philippians 2:4 (NIRV) – “None of you should look out just for your own good. Each of you should also look out for the good of others.”
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NIV) – “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.”
Jeremiah 33:3 (NIV) – “‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’”
John 10:3-4 (NIV) – “The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.”
James 1:22 (NIV) – “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”
Matthew 7:24 (CEV) – “Anyone who hears and obeys these teachings of mine is like a wise person who built a house on solid rock.”
Proverbs 2:2 (NIRV) – “Let your ears listen to wisdom. Apply your heart to understanding.”
Genesis 27:5-6 (NIV) – “Now Rebekah was listening as Isaac spoke to his son Esau. When Esau left for the open country to hunt game and bring it back, Rebekah said to her son Jacob, “Look, I overheard your father say to your brother Esau,”
Philippians 4:8 (CEV) – “Finally, my friends, keep your minds on whatever is true, pure, right, holy, friendly, and proper. Don't ever stop thinking about what is truly worthwhile and worthy of praise.”
Application:
1. Try out, for this week, allowing others – especially God – to be the first to speak (excluding greetings and questions to prompt conversation)
2. Reflect on how willing of a listener you are and discern what you could do to be an even better one
3. Commit today to only using the gift of listening for the good of others
Strength Point:
Listening, whether verbally or through signs, is a gift from God that allows us to take in wisdom and bless others with support.
Prayer Prompt:
Hi Jesus! Thank you for always being willing to listen to me. You’re the best friend anyone could have. I’m sorry for not being willing or taking the time to listen to what You want to say to me. I want to desire You’re loving, yet powerful voice at all times. Reveal moments in my life, throughout each day, where You want me to pause and be silent in Your presence. I pray that I would be better at not just listening haphazardly, but in a way that I’m engaged. Help me, Lord, to be more willing to listen to the people around me. I want to be there and care for my friends and family, be a representative – to others – of how You listen, and also absorb the wisdom of Christian leaders and mentors. Furthermore, teach me to listen to my body, so that I ensure that I take care of myself, for it’s a temple for Your Spirit inside me. Thank You for the ability to listen, whether verbally or through signs. You are so good! I love You! In Jesus' Name, I pray, amen.
A Prayer to Pray over Others:
Hi Jesus! Thank you for always being willing to listen to us. You’re the best friend anyone could have. Help my friend to be willing and take the time to listen to what You want to say to them. Create in them a desire for You’re loving, yet powerful voice at all times. Reveal moments in their life, throughout each day, where You want them to pause and be silent in Your presence. I pray that my friend would not just listen haphazardly, but in a way that their engaged. Help them, Lord, to be more willing to listen to the people around them. Remind them to be there and care for their friends and family, be a representative – to others – of how You listen, and also absorb the wisdom of Christian leaders and mentors. Furthermore, teach my friend to listen to their body, so that they take good care of themselves. Thank You for the ability to listen, whether verbally or through signs. You are so good! I love You! In Your Name, Jesus, I pray, amen.
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