Slow to Speak
Scripture: James 1:19, 20 - So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; 20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
God gave us two ears to hear, two eyes to see, two nostrils to breathe, but only one mouth
to speak. Yet, in opposite proportion, God says far more about the potential good and damage
speech from a mouth can do to others. Impulsiveness of our behavior can in general do much
harm because it springs into action without control and forethought. When this becomes a
matter of our words, we tend to underestimate the impact and far reaching implications of
impulsive or anger driven speech. The phrase “slow to speak” is not a matter of the speed of
speaking, but a matter of consideration and appropriate control with our words. This phrase is
surrounded by three guiding principles to help us in this matter of being “SLOW TO SPEAK”.
One of the ways to help us with consideration and control is that we must be “QUICK TO
HEAR”. It is not just hearing, but the quality of hearing that we refer to as listening. It not only
enables us to fully understand or interpret meaning of words being spoken to us, but time to
accurately assess our own self-control to those words and develop appropriate, even godly,
responses out of our mouths. Soft answers that turn away wrath (Prov. 15:1); Sure words that
speak the truth (Eph. 4:15); and Seasoned words with grace (Col. 4:6), require being quick to
hear and process before we speak.
The second matter to devote ourselves to in being slow to speak is being “SLOW TO ANGER”. Anger, without any controls will always be selfish and vengeful. In the heat of the moment, being slow to speak is critical to avoid irreparable damage with words that cannot be taken back, nor can the words, “I am sorry” erase the trauma of remembering that they were ever said. Slow to anger causes impulsive, thoughtless, inconsiderate words to be avoided with the hope that peaceful resolution, reconciliation and love can prevail. The Wisdom Book of Proverbs has many references about anger management, but Proverbs 16:32 sums them all up when it likens being slow to anger as a person who can show their strength when they rule their own spirit.
The third point of devotion is to remind ourselves that our purpose in life is to accomplish the righteous purposes of God. The most extensive and direct teaching about God’s concern on
tongue and speech control is found in this Book of James. Of all the cautions that He gives us,
God says, “with it (the tongue) we praise God and with it we also curse men who are made in
the likeness of God’s image. From the same mouth come blessings and cursing. These things
ought not be so my brothers and sisters.”
Prayer: Father forgive me for the times that I have been unguarded and out of control with my speech. Please help me as per the request that that Your servant David asked of You, “Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips.” Amen.
(by Pastor Wayne Cockrell)
God gave us two ears to hear, two eyes to see, two nostrils to breathe, but only one mouth
to speak. Yet, in opposite proportion, God says far more about the potential good and damage
speech from a mouth can do to others. Impulsiveness of our behavior can in general do much
harm because it springs into action without control and forethought. When this becomes a
matter of our words, we tend to underestimate the impact and far reaching implications of
impulsive or anger driven speech. The phrase “slow to speak” is not a matter of the speed of
speaking, but a matter of consideration and appropriate control with our words. This phrase is
surrounded by three guiding principles to help us in this matter of being “SLOW TO SPEAK”.
One of the ways to help us with consideration and control is that we must be “QUICK TO
HEAR”. It is not just hearing, but the quality of hearing that we refer to as listening. It not only
enables us to fully understand or interpret meaning of words being spoken to us, but time to
accurately assess our own self-control to those words and develop appropriate, even godly,
responses out of our mouths. Soft answers that turn away wrath (Prov. 15:1); Sure words that
speak the truth (Eph. 4:15); and Seasoned words with grace (Col. 4:6), require being quick to
hear and process before we speak.
The second matter to devote ourselves to in being slow to speak is being “SLOW TO ANGER”. Anger, without any controls will always be selfish and vengeful. In the heat of the moment, being slow to speak is critical to avoid irreparable damage with words that cannot be taken back, nor can the words, “I am sorry” erase the trauma of remembering that they were ever said. Slow to anger causes impulsive, thoughtless, inconsiderate words to be avoided with the hope that peaceful resolution, reconciliation and love can prevail. The Wisdom Book of Proverbs has many references about anger management, but Proverbs 16:32 sums them all up when it likens being slow to anger as a person who can show their strength when they rule their own spirit.
The third point of devotion is to remind ourselves that our purpose in life is to accomplish the righteous purposes of God. The most extensive and direct teaching about God’s concern on
tongue and speech control is found in this Book of James. Of all the cautions that He gives us,
God says, “with it (the tongue) we praise God and with it we also curse men who are made in
the likeness of God’s image. From the same mouth come blessings and cursing. These things
ought not be so my brothers and sisters.”
Prayer: Father forgive me for the times that I have been unguarded and out of control with my speech. Please help me as per the request that that Your servant David asked of You, “Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips.” Amen.
(by Pastor Wayne Cockrell)
Archive
2024
January
Gratitude Mixed with Faith Should Equal ObedienceGrace Comes In God’s TimingGOD USES WHOM HE CHOOSESSeeing What God Sees to Get What God HasA Life Verse That Is Good for Every YearSeeing Things as God Sees ThemThree QuestionsDon’t Worry About the FutureForgiveness Is Our Daily CelebrationPeace When We Do RightGod’s True Children Certainly Should KnowRegret In Missed OpportunitiesThe Attitude of Delight Is RightMeditation Deprivation Is EvidentARE YOU A DISCIPLE OR JUST A CONVERT?An Anchored Soul Won’t QuitGod Wants to Be BelievedFinding God in Our PainI Must Be About God’s WordWhat the Wondrous Word of God Can Do in a Willing ServantSeeing Things God’s WayGetting Along for Jesus SakeMeditating Brings Us Success In The Christian LifeThe State of Mind That Pleases GodPraised By the RaisedHaving the Right Knowledge for Real FaithWhose Mind Do You Think With?All My Heart & All My WaysWise with the Lord’s TimeNo Shame About What God Has SaidPrayer Is A Conversation
February
DEEP ARMOR FOR THE STEEP CLIMBDressed in the Whole Armor of God for Spiritual WarfareGRAB THAT ARMORSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER WITH PASTOR WAYNE COCKRELLIn My Dressing Room (Putting on the Armor of God)Armored for Any WeatherTruth is Foundation for Our FaithA Work in Progress and A Mouth in TrainingREJECTION OF GOSSIP, SLANDER, LIES, AND DISCORD: THE PERFECTING OF 'FEBRUARY'THE DETESTABLESSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER WITH PASTOR WAYNE COCKRELLIf the Lord Hates It, We Should TooThe Offense Ward of the Sin HospitalSpilling the TeaWe are in ChristLet us Do BetterSpread Love, Not GossipSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER WITH PASTOR WAYNE COCKRELLThe GREATEST THRILL: Being SPIRIT - FilledTHE HOLY SPIRIT'S CONTROLA Drunken SpiritLookin’ Like Our DaddyFermented or Fresh; How is Your Fruit?We Have it AllSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER WITH PASTOR WAYNE COCKRELLJESUS’ LOVE MANDATEHIS Walk, Our Hopethe greatest gift of allTo Love Like Christ
March
LOVE x LOVELove is CommitmentSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor CockrellTHE HIGHEST DEBT OF LOVEPREVAILING IN LOVE, AND IN THE LIGHT OF THE PROMISEReturn Your Love to METhe Loveless ChurchWhat Do You Want First: the Good News or the Bad News?POSITIVE FRICTION THAT MAKES US BETTERSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne CockrellHis Love Versus My FearsJESUS LOVES YOUBe Surrendered to 'Love'Victory Over Fear: Life’s Small LessonsJesus, Our VictoryTRUST CHRIST, BANISH FEARSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne CockrellHarmony and Discord Aren’t FriendsHOLY PARAMETERSBlinded by HateACT or REACTRESISTING ANGER AND HATE IN CONFLICTPeculiar PeopleSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne CockrellONWARD & UPWARDHow To Fall ForwardThe Front Windshield is Much Bigger than the Rearview MirrorONE THING TO DOLooking Back Will Have You SaltyGreat Cloud of WitnessesSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne Cockrell
No Comments