“Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.” James 1:19
Lord Jesus, two things strike me right out of the gate in this very familiar verse. First is the word “dear.” We are beloved—dear to you. Your relationship with us and love for us should define us more than anything else. Second is the word “must.” As challenging as this verse is, you’re not suggesting, you’re commanding us to love as you love us—beginning with our listening, words, and our emotions—especially anger. Help us Jesus.
May quick, good listening translate into, first and foremost, listening to everything you want to reveal to us about yourself, Jesus. We are all neophytes and babes, when it comes to understanding the riches of your grace, and the truth, goodness, and beauty that are only found in you. From there, help us to…
- Offer each other the gift of engaged un-rushed presence.
- Stay curious and assume the best of others.
- Ask more questions than we assume answers.
- Resist putting our meaning on other people’s words.
- Say back what we are hearing, for the sake of clarification and connection.
- Listen with our eyes, hearts, and your kindness—not just hear with our ears.
If we do these things, the “slow to get angry” part will be a lot easier for us. But Jesus, you know our real “anger issues” better than anyone. Help us process with you the irritability, edginess, and short fuses we’re currently carrying; and why we are offended so easily, triggered quickly, and are so reactionary these days. That’s not who we want to be, or who you’ll called us to become. So Very Amen.