Take a Deep Breath and Count to FOUR!

                

“Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.”

Jas 1:19-21

This passage is interesting because of what it teaches about attitudes and approaches to life – especially for the person who strives to walk with God in life. James has a quality about teaching without a lot of fluff, and getting down to bare metal.  Yet this is what is needed sometimes because the world has many distractions and noises that can make living a moral – spiritual life difficult.  Let’s consider his statements above a little more closely.

1.     In life, speaking out first is not always a good thing. This is especially true if you with regard to hearing God’s voice in all of the things that go on in life.  “Quick to listen slow to speak,” is simply good everyday advice.  We aren't listening if we are talking, and we aren't learning if we are not listening. If you don’t believe you can learn anything from God, take time to read the book of Job.  Job was a godly man, yet stumbled into being “too big for his britches” like most of us do. In the last chapters of the book, God sits Job down to see if Job really “knew it all” or, was adequate enough to make the judgments and rationalizations that he was making.  I find it interesting that Job’s response is “Who am I to answer you? I did speak once or twice, but never again…You asked why I talk so much when I know so little. I have talked about things that are far beyond my understanding." (Job 40:4,5;  42:3).  
2.     “Slow to become angry” – again, good practical everyday advice.  Even the world has teachers that tell you that you have to be calm.  Going back to our point above, you can’t hear God when you’re angry, and you can’t find peace with others by being angry. Disposition can set the tone for what comes, and angry words only stir up strife. We have to learn to keep a lid on things. As one of the favorite kids shows teaches even the toddlers, “When you feel so mad and you want to ROAR. Take a deep breath and count to four!” Especially with regard to hearing God, the best advice is  “Sit down, and shut up.”
3.          Life has many pitfalls and traps, and we can’t avoid those traps if we dabble our toes in their streams. You need to get rid of the stuff that stinks in your life and sometimes that can be painful. Evil wouldn’t exist if there weren’t aspects of it if even in some bent or twisted way people found enjoyable. We don’t think about serial killers, molesters, deviants as enjoying what they do. While it may not be the act itself, a lot of times it is simply the thrill of it or the thrill of believing that they’ve gotten away with it.  We aren’t serial killers, but evil – sin is like that in all of us. We either enjoy the act, the thrill of the act, or the thrill of thinking we have gotten away with it.  I can’t accept that which will save me until I understand that I need to be saved because I am dying or drowning in my wrong. This requires humility, which is what James says.

Why do you these things are such difficult things to practice? What can we minimize our distractions so that we can listen? What is the emotional and spiritual garbage that is keeping you from hearing God’s voice today? What new habits can you develop to prepare your to hear God? 

Jim