James 1:19 – “Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters!  Let every person be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger.”

As I read, prayed, and mused on the Word of God today, several things tugged at my heart.  In Esther 4:14-16, there is a powerful reminder that we are not God’s only option.  Mordecai’s warning to Esther about her trepidation to get involved is a reminder that silence is not always golden. The position and condition we find ourselves usually have a larger purpose.

James 1 speaks to the reality that life has problems, and those problems are exams to reveal our progress and define our purpose.   Being joyful in a trial is not being joyful for a trial.  Understanding what the trial is doing is cause for rejoicing.  Trials reveal our inadequacy and God’s sufficiency. Lessons learned strengthen our confidence in God and solidify our faith.  Trials teach us the value of patience and persistence.

James 1:19 should be on a plaque we all keep before us.  Swift to hear. Speaking or doing rashly never produces the fruit of righteousness.  Speaking or doing without the revelation of God’s desire is a doorway to rebellion.

Be slow and guarded in our words, gives God the necessary latitude to work in all directions.  Hear the conclusion of the whole matter before putting in your two cents.  Be slow to anger.  Righteous indignation can propel us into right action, but selfish anger is a wedge between man and man and man and God.

James 4:3 reveals the importance of motives!  The why is usually more important than the what, when, where, who, and how.  Why are we angry? Why do we doubt?  Why do we fear?  Why do we fail?  Why?  The root of the Why is the condition of our hearts and is revealed in our tongues.  The overflow of the heart reveals the true heart!

Let’s practice the steps of God’s dance – Swift, Slow, Slow!  Dance to the music of mercy and watch God do what God does!

Let’s learn to do God’s Slow Dance!