From The Crucible (by Pastor Linda Pugsley)

Ever said something you wish you didn’t? Coarse or biting words or something in verbal retaliation comes pouring from your mouth and you desperately wish you had a rewind or delete button.

Well, it doesn’t work that way, but God has a great remedy and one I have to diligently work on and practice…ah, and probably you do, too! James 1:19 tells us to be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger. Yikes, listen and not respond in a knee-jerk reaction! Slow to speak! God has to be kidding!

No, He’s not. Proverbs 12:18 says that reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. You see, God doesn’t give us these directions to stifle us in the living of our lives. He’s really trying to show us a lifestyle that will, more often than not, bring us the peace and joy we so ardently desire.

So the next time those words are stuck in the back of your throat, make yourself practice crucifying the flesh and let God’s Spirit rule. Then, with ease, you will say a little prayer for His wisdom in the moment and will be quick to do the “listen thing” and slow to do the “yakking thing”. That, for sure, will slow down the “anger thing” on both sides of the situation. See, that wasn’t so bad now, was it?

As God’s positive speech patterns supersede your crummy negative ones, your joy, peace and love levels will soar and that’s what you really need anyways, right? Endure the fire…it’s producing pure gold!

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