Tag Archives: for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Therefore

Quick To Listen

Posted on by
Reply
Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Wisdom - Quick To Listen - James 1:19-21 - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Wisdom – Quick To Listen – James 1:19-21 – Growing As Disciples

My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life 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. James 1:19-21 (NIV)

 Like A Luxurious Garden

What are you quick to listen to? What and who has your attention? I’m not exactly sure what you mean. What thoughts occupy your mind? Who is speaking into your life? I would like to think that your thoughts occupy my thinking and that you are speaking into my life. Now you are beginning to understand my questions.

I want you to be quick to listen. You might ask “To what, do you want me to listen?” You already know the answer. Yes, I do. You want me to be quick to listen to you and your word. Yes, I do. How will I best be able to do that? Now, that is a very good question. You are like a garden. I want my word to be planted in you so that it will flourish and grow. You will never be able to live the righteous life I desire for you unless you are listening to my word. As you listen I will plant my word in you. You are right to ask how will you be able to be quick to listen to my word.

I will gladly answer that question for you. To listen you must listen. That sounds obvious doesn’t it? Yes, it does. You cant be speaking and listening attentively at the same time. I get it. Do you really? The more you speak the less you will be able to hear and listen to me. The one who speaks thinks he knows. The listener listens because he does not know. I want you to have the attitude of a humble listener. I want you to be hungry and eager to hear from me. I’m here to listen. Yes, you are and that is very good.

There are two things that will also hinder your ability to hear from me. They will try to prevent you from living the righteous life I have given you to live for me. What are they? The first one is anger. How well can you hear from me if you are angry about something? When I’m angry I can’t hear from you at all. Yes, that’s right. Will you set aside all your anger so that you can listen to me? Yes Lord, I will.

What is the second thing that will prevent me from hearing from you and living the righteous life you want me to live? This one is the direct opposite of the life I want you to live. I want you to get rid of anything that is morally filthy and evil. Take a close look. Do an inventory with me. Ask me to show you if there is anything in your life that displeases me. I will show you what must go. Together we will uproot what I don’t want planted in your life. Then in the new space available I will plant my word into your life so that my word will continue to grow and flourish in you. That’s what I want Lord. Yes, I know. I will make your life like a luxurious garden and you will flourish for me.

Lord, help me to remove anger, moral filth, and evil from my life so that I will be able to attentively listen to you. Plant your word in me and cause it to flourish and grow so that I will be like a luxurious garden bearing fruit for you.  Amen

Key Question…  When are you allowing the Lord to speak to you so that He can plant His word in your life?

Living It Out…  Rid your life of anger, moral filth and evil so that you can listen to the Lord and allow Him to plant His word in you.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will plant His word in you and cause your life to grow and flourish for Him.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how the Lord is planting His word in your life and causing you to grow.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you put away anger, moral filth and evil so you can humbly listen to God and let Him plant His word in you.

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

Wisdom – James 1-19-21 – Quick To Listen – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                                                        Copying not permitted                                                                                    www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

Quick – Slow

Posted on by
Reply
Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Rhythms - James 1-19-21 - Quick - Slow - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Rhythms – James 1-19-21 – Quick – Slow – Growing As Disciples

My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life 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. James 1:19-21 (NIV)

Plant Your Word

I have gotten it all backwards. I have been quick to speak. I have been slow to listen. I have been quick to become angry. Obviously, I have not taken very good notes on what you have wanted me to hear and put into practice. I have not allowed you to deeply plant your word in me. I have not allowed your word to take deep roots and grow in me. Why is that? What has hindered your ability to listen? Why would I need to listen? Does someone who thinks they “know it all” need to listen? Do you “know it all”? Do you really have no need to listen? I know very little. I desperately need to listen. I need all the help that I can get. I am far from perfect. I am a work in progress that is for sure. I want and need your help. Is that a prayer of yours? Yes, I am asking you to change me. I want to be quick to listen. I want to be slow to speak. I want to be slow to become angry. I don’t ever want to become angry. At this point I’d settle for becoming very slow to become angry. Most of all, I want to live the righteous life that you have called me to live. That is also another prayer of mine. Yes, I know.

You know how I will change your heart. You know how I will transform your mind. You know what I will use to make you quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. That much I do know. You will use your word to accomplish all these things in my life. Yes, I will. You have a part to play. You will not be a passive participant in the work that I will do in and through your life. What must you do with my word if you want me to change your heart and transform your mind? I will humbly let you plant your word deeply in me. I will listen attentively to everything that you have to say to me. I will allow your word to take root and grow in my life. I will be very careful to put into practice everything that you teach me. Then you will become quick to listen. Then you will be slow to speak. Then you will be slow to become angry. Then you will live the righteous life that I have called you to live. Do that work in me, Lord. I’m listening. Yes, I know. I will.

Lord, I have been quick to speak, slow to listen and quick to become angry. Forgive me. Help me to humbly allow you to plant your word in me. Change my heart. Transform my mind. Make me a listener. Help me to be slow to speak and slow to become angry. Amen

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

Rhythms – James-1-19-21- Quick-Slow – 4-Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                   Copying not permitted                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

Take Note Of This

Posted on by
Reply
Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 165 - James 1:19-21 - Take Note Of This - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 165 – James 1:19-21 – Take Note Of This – Growing As Disciples

My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,  for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life 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. James 1:19-21 (NIV)

Notes

Are you taking notes? Are you listening attentively to what I have to say to you? Are you allowing my word to be planted deeply in you? Are you allowing my word to change your heart, transform your mind and guide your life? Is my word helping you to think and speak and act in ways that are pleasing to me? I’m not sure, you tell me. Nice try. You tell me. I think that your word is doing its work in me. I think that I am allowing your word to be planted in me. How are you allowing my word to be planted in you? I meet with you in your word. I read and study your word. I meditate deeply on your word. I memorize your word. I pray your word. I proclaim your word. Most of all, I believe that I am putting your word into practice every day as I love, follow and serve you. It is certainly the desire and passion of my heart to have your word dwelling in me richly. I know, without a doubt, that your word is and will be molding and shaping my life. I know, for certain, that your word will make me able to resist temptation and stand against evil. I know, with great confidence, that your Holy Spirit is taking your word and using it to fight in me, with me, for me, and through me, as I walk through life with you. That’s true. That sure. That’s certain. Now, I am living a perfect life? Not a chance. Do I still need your word to continue to do its work in me? For sure. So, if you can plant your word even more deeply in my life, I welcome you to do it today, tomorrow, and every day of my life until I come to meet you face to face. That I am doing. That I will continue to do. Have no doubts about that. Thank you, Lord.

Let’s talk about anger. What do you know about anger? Anger can and does destroy relationships. Anger can and will make me an ineffective witness for you in the world. Anger will make me unable to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. You have answered well. Anger will do all this damage. So, what will you do with your anger? How will you respond in a situation that might make you angry? I will be quick to listen. I will be slow to speak. I will be slow to become angry. That will be very good. Let these words of mine be planted deep within your heart and mind and life. Then you will be able to live a life that is good and right and pleasing to me. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, I will take note of what you say to me. I will listen attentively. I will allow you to plant your word deep within my heart, mind and life. Help me to live a righteous life that is pleasing to you. Make me quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. Amen

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

Promises – Day 165 – James 1-19-21 – Take Note Of This – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                   Copying not permitted                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com