My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: 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. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it — not forgetting what they have heard but doing it — they will be blessed in what they do. Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
James 1:19-27 New International Version (NIV)
Quick to listen.
Slow to speak.
Slow to anger.
Take 5.
When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
James 3:3-6 (NIV)
H A L T
Hungry – Angry – Lonely – Tired
Hungry/Hurt: “Hurt people hurt people”
Stressed – Hurt – Angry – Lonely – Tired
SHALT
“Thou SHALT Take 5!”
When your children were young, you spoke words of life into their little beings. They cooed and you cooed back. You whispered blessing over them as they slept and told the “you are SO BIG” when they were so tiny. You had no intention of ever berating your babies… Within a few short years, your toddler proved defiant, difficult, and demanding – as is their job at two. Since the start of those “terrible twos,” a battle of words began between you and them; amongst siblings in backseats, and teenagers with backtalk…Eventually, their constant bantering sets you off faster than anything else. It’s your trigger — Kaboom! You bring out the big guns and end the skirmish with a few choice words, because your voice is the loudest… However, when we exchange angry words for angry words, nasty face for nasty face, slamming door for slamming door, and tear them down with our words, we’ve hijacked a teachable moment.
Triggers. Exchanging Parents’ Angry Reactions for Gentle Biblical Responses, Amber Lia and Wendy Speake, Chapter 2
Joy is found in giving the right answer. And how good is the word spoken at the right time!
Proverbs 15:23 NIRV
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me – put into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Philippians 4:8-9 (NLT)
What about you? TAKE 5!