SCRIPTURE

Studied: James 1

OBSERVATION

James 1:19-20 ~ My dear friends, you should be quick to listen and slow to speak or to get angry. If you are angry, you cannot do any of the good things that God wants done.

APPLICATION

I heard something recently that I believe ties closely with these verses, that if people would humble themselves and forgive others, doctors’ offices would be a lot emptier. In other words, we bring so much ill health on ourselves because we are so determined to have our own way. In these verses God tells us through James that if we are angry, and I attribute a lot of our anger to not getting our own way, then we cannot do any of the good things that God wants done through us. In verse 19 we are told that we should be quick to listen, and then think carefully about what was said, instead of being so quick to lash back in anger. Remember, we have two ears and one mouth – listen twice as much as we speak! Be patient with that brother or sister, because they may be just as imperfect as we are! The mind sobering thought that I received from this is that God really won’t use us when we are in a state of anger, and I wouldn’t want anything to stop the blessing that God would have in mind to be done through me.

PRAYER

Lord Jesus, I thank You for Your Word and the nuggets packed into each verse that are intended to uplift us and challenge us to a closer relationship with You. I acknowledge before You today that although made perfect by You, I often stumble and create an imperfectness in my walk, my talk and my attitude. I need You to touch my life again today and renew a right spirit within me so that I may walk more in line with Your design for my life. Please help me to stay so in tuned with Your Holy Spirit, that others will see very little difference between my mannerisms and spirit than what they would expect from You. Please help me to never be a stumbling block to anyone that You are speaking to or working on. Thank You for allowing me to be a child of the King and a child destined for Heaven with You, please help me to live in line with my royal assignment.