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It is then that we are giving ourselves much time to change our angry response. Listen, before even thinking about speaking. Instead, decide to listen patiently and readily.ĭon't speak right away, but think before you speak. It might be easier to first focus on being quick to listen. But I think James is giving us a three-part process. Here's my challenge to all of us: Don't just look at that last part: slow to become angry. I struggle with this too, as do many of you, I'm sure. Oh, those verses are easier said than done. This is some of the best relationship advice you will ever receive. One of the areas in which James tells us to apply God's Word is in our demeanor towards others. He wants us to decide that we are going to put our faith into action. That is truly what James is calling us to do. We won't do it perfectly, but God honors our attempt and our willingness to change. Of course, even when we try our hardest to apply Scripture and do what it says, we continue to struggle in our sin nature here on earth. But you close your Bible, turn around, and yell at your kids without any hesitation. You're currently holding on to bitterness and a very angry, and you know it. You see James admonition to be slow to anger. Let's say you read today's passage, James 1:19-27. If you're reading the Bible, maybe as a daily habit, but you walk away without attempting to apply it, you may as well not have read it at all. If you're going to read the Bible, you need to desire to apply it as well. You may as well not have looked in the mirror at all. You just turn around and walked right back, looking the way you do. What was the point of looking in the mirror in the first place? You saw there was dirt on your face and didn't remove it. How embarrassing! But instead of removing it, you walk right out back into that party hall, looking completely inappropriate. You excuse yourself to the bathroom where you look at yourself in the mirror. I'd like for you to picture yourself at a cocktail party.