Words, Words, Words

Glory to your name Father God. There are so many different messages to listen to all around us. The different voices that tell us about God and how to maneuver through this world. Today and tomorrow I will be listening to a lot of different messages. Lots of different voices who will have an agenda. But where is God in all of that? I have to be a listener with a very discerning ear. I must be quick to listen and slow to speak so as not to become angry. Dear God I feel as if I am going to need this message more than ever the next couple of days. Strengthen me through this. People who have power and abuse that power are evil. I just have to get that out. I love you and pray for you daily. Life goes on and we are all dealing with the circumstances of life. We make choices that influence how people react around us. When we tell others of our plans we allow them to be able to manipulate our plans. I talk too much. I forget who I am working with. Vipers with nothing better to do with their time than to manipulate others. I will listen to them today but I will not like it. Lord, hold my tongue and let me get through these last two days. Lord let me hear your word and let me follow it. Two days. Remember to smile and say nice things. Be nice. You can do it. Don't be phony, just be yourself. God loves you.

James 1:19-27

New International Version (NIV)

Listening and Doing

¹⁹ My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, ²⁰ because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. ²¹ 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.
²² Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. ²³ Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror ²⁴ and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. ²⁵ But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
²⁶ Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. ²⁷ Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.