Scripture Memory {Verse 4}

As usual, I'm a little behind on posting my verses, but I promise that I'm still going strong with memorizing them on schedule. The verse I have chosen for #4 is one of my favorites, which I'm sure that you will think is strange once you read it. It's not pretty or uplifting or sentimental, it's convicting. The first time I ever read it, I immediately felt convicted. That's when you know you've found a great verse. Every time I read it, I feel the exact same way...which is why I am choosing to memorize this verse. I need to be reminded of it constantly.

P.S. - In case you missed the explanation on what I am doing here...short version: I'm memorizing 24 bible verses this year in order to help me get more into the gospel and grow spiritually. Long version: Read my blog post about it here.

My fourth memory verse for 2015 is James 1:19-20...

If you read this verse and think, "I totally do all three of those things all the time", then you are probably lying to yourself. I can't think of anyone I know who does these things consistently, especially myself. In fact, I tend to do the exact opposite of these things more often than not. Don't we all? Personally, I think that our culture actually promotes doing the exact opposite of what God is calling us to do in this verse. When someone says something that you don't agree with or that offends you, what is your initial reaction? Do you wait and listen to what they have to say, then think about and choose your words carefully, staying calm and understanding of their feelings? Well, that's what God is telling us we should be doing if we want to glorify Him. However, I know how most of us probably react when someone offends us or disagrees with our opinion...we immediately stop listening to whatever they are saying and start building our argument in our head, we get all pissed off and just start spewing our "better and correct" opinions from our mouths like word vomit without even thinking about what we are saying before it comes out. Guilty as charged.

So the next time you are confronted with a difference of opinions, remember this verse. We should stop whatever we are doing or thinking right away and listen, truly listen, to the person who is talking. Not sit there staring at them pretending to listen, while actually building up our defense against them in our head instead of listening. Once they are finished talking, you don't have to open your mouth and say something right away. Yes, a little silence for a minute might be awkward, but not nearly as awkward as when you don't think before you speak and end up saying something stupid or hurtful. When I was a teacher, I would encourage my students to T.H.I.N.K. before they would speak. (Is what you are about to say True, Helpful, Inspiring, Necessary, and Kind?) I hate to say it, but even though I would hold my students accountable to this everyday, I definitely did not practice in my personal life what I was preaching in the classroom. Even as adults, I feel like we should follow these same guidelines and based on James 1:19-20 I think that God would agree.

Hence the reason I am memorizing this verse. I want to challenge myself to follow these instructions, rather than reacting in my normal manner. Have you ever gone off on someone, getting angry, saying hurtful things, and thought to yourself afterward, "I feel so much happier now"? Probably not. Anytime I let myself get angry and either say something hurtful or even just think it in my head, I always feel like crap afterward. Negative thoughts and feelings only produce more negative thoughts and feelings. Being negative does not produce positive results. The next time I am faced with a challenging situation, I hope to call on this verse from my memory and think about how God would want me to react to the situation before I open my big mouth.