“Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.”

While this passage is most often applied to our relationships with others, and rightfully so, I want to shift our mindset and focus this passage on our relationship with God.

Quick to Listen:

We cannot hear God if we are the only one talking. How many times have you prayed and spent the whole time speaking? Prayer is supposed to be a conversation, but we often treat it as a monologue wish list, sharing with God what is on our hearts, but never taking the time to hear what is on God’s heart. We are too busy talking. Too busy thinking ahead. Too busy with our concerns. Here is the hard truth of the matter: we, and our concerns, are not the most important part of the conversation. God is. What is on God’s heart should always be the most important focus of the conversation. In our prayers and in our daily living, we should be less concerned with telling God what is on our heart and mind; rather, we should be actively listening to and seeking out what is on God’s heart and mind. We must quiet ourselves and enter a position of attentiveness. “Be still,” the Psalmist says, “and know that I am God.” Elijah on the mountain did not find God until he was able to enter a place of stillness. There in stillness he heard the gentle whisper of God. Likewise, we will struggle to hear God’s voice if we are not willing to find a place and posture of stillness (1 Kings 19:12). Being quick to listen means being aware of your need to be still and act upon it; however, being still before God is never a quick thing.

Slow to Speak:

Even after we have heard God, we should take time to ponder what God has said. Hearing from God is no small thing. It might be easy for us to say, “I feel like God is telling me this or that” and rush into it. However, maybe we should consider taking the attitude of Mary, that, when she heard the voice of the angel, she treasured and pondered the words in her heart (Luke 2:19). We must be willing to take time to discern God’s voice. We do this by asking for wisdom and remaining in the stillness of God’s presence.

Slow to Get Angry:

Has God convicted you? Has He told you something you did not want to hear? Has he shown you a part of yourself you did not want to see? Does this make you angry? Be careful. If we want to seek God in the stillness, we also must be willing to listen to the unpleasant things God needs to show us. The thing on God’s heart is your right standing before Him. He will most certainly speak to you about this matter before He will address any other concerns. He may be quick to show you your own messiness, not to punish you, but because He wants to pull you out of it. “Be still.” What is your response to God? As James says in the very next verse, “human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.” The hidden message behind this passage is humility. Only a spirit of humility allows us to say, I want to be still and listen. Only a spirit of humility allows us to say, I want to be still and discern what God has spoken. Only a spirit of humility allows us to say, I will be still and not be angry with what God has said. Our response to God should always be one of humility. Humility allows us to truly seek what is on God’s heart; it demonstrates the righteousness God desires. So, hasten yourself to go a little slower.