A Soft Answer Turns Away Anger

“A soft answer turns away wrath,

but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
Proverbs 15:1

“Ye know this, my beloved brethren. But let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:”
‭‭James‬ ‭1:19‬ ‭ASV‬‬
http://bible.com/12/jas.1.19.asv

Proverbs 15:1 is the first Bible verse God used to speak to me as a new believer and a newlywed. It is also the first verse I memorized. This verse paired up with one of my devotion verses from this morning, made me realize that we sometimes cause our own drama and problems. There’s enough drama and problems in life without adding to it. Before I continue, let me assure you that I’m not preaching, and I’m not patting myself on the back. This is God speaking and teaching me. That lesson started 36 years ago in my life, and I’m just now starting to understand the meaning. And it’s a lesson I keep having to be taught over and over. Being able to give a soft answer to an angry person takes listening skills. Really listening to others helps put the situation in perspective. I’m slower to judge, slower to get angry, and slower to get my feelings hurt, if I really listen. Listening is more than hearing what a person says. Really listening is looking beyond the words and listening to the body language, past the outer shell. I find that when I give the Holy Spirt my very being, He shows me more than the eye can see. I’m so thankful God is patient with me.

What is a special verse in your life? What life lessons is our Holy Heavenly Father working in you?