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.
— James 1:19–20
It’s almost impossible to be successful if everything you do in life is just an emotional reaction to the things happening around you. Warren Buffet once said, “The stock market is a device for transferring money from the impatient to the patient.” Living a life of reaction will ultimately cost you.
The passage above reminds us of the importance of having a Godly attitude regarding how we respond to others. It’s essential to have a self-controlled attitude, where we take the time to listen to others and understand their perspective before we speak or respond in anger.
When we have a righteous attitude, we are better able to communicate with others and understand their needs. We become more approachable, and it allows God to work in our lives and the lives of those around us. A righteous attitude is also characterized by self-control, which helps us act in a way that brings glory to God.
It’s easy to let our emotions take control, but as believers, we are called to set a higher standard for ourselves. We are called to respond to others in a way that reflects the love of Christ. When we strive to have a godly attitude, we become a reflection of the work of God in our lives, and others can see His work in us.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, please help us to have a godly attitude characterized by self-control and humility. Remind us to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry. Give us the wisdom to understand and respond to the needs of others in a way that brings glory to your name. In Jesus’s name, amen.