- Joined
- Apr 25, 2006
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- 17,610
How to keep your friends
"...BE QUICK TO LISTEN, SLOW TO SPEAK AND SLOW TO BECOME ANGRY.'' JAMES 1:19
Do you find that you get in loads of arguments, always seem to be apologizing and having to make up with people? If you master the three instructions that James gives, the likelihood of that will drop big time.
1) Be quick to listen! By staying calm and refusing to react, you gain insight - and respect! 'A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control' (Proverbs 29:11 NIV).
2) Be slow to speak! Are you always butting in? Need to have the last word? If you talk too much or too fast, here are three tips to slow you down:
a) stop. Just stop talking. Inhale. Count to 10. Excuse yourself and go to the loo!
b) practice not interrupting. Allow the other person to continue what they're saying until they're through
c) even if you're not arguing ask yourself: Why am I talking so much? Is it insecurity? Stress? The need to control? A desire to impress? The reason most of us try to convince, impress or control others is because we have a hard time trusting God to work things out. In other words, 'our talk issue, is a trust issue.'
3) Be slow to anger! If you observe the first two points you'll tend to come out all right on number three. It'll just happen. You can make progress on these three things - and you can start today. And if you do it consistently year after year you'll get to the end of your life and say to yourself, 'I'm so grateful that I took the wisdom of God seriously.'
"...BE QUICK TO LISTEN, SLOW TO SPEAK AND SLOW TO BECOME ANGRY.'' JAMES 1:19
Do you find that you get in loads of arguments, always seem to be apologizing and having to make up with people? If you master the three instructions that James gives, the likelihood of that will drop big time.
1) Be quick to listen! By staying calm and refusing to react, you gain insight - and respect! 'A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control' (Proverbs 29:11 NIV).
2) Be slow to speak! Are you always butting in? Need to have the last word? If you talk too much or too fast, here are three tips to slow you down:
a) stop. Just stop talking. Inhale. Count to 10. Excuse yourself and go to the loo!
b) practice not interrupting. Allow the other person to continue what they're saying until they're through
c) even if you're not arguing ask yourself: Why am I talking so much? Is it insecurity? Stress? The need to control? A desire to impress? The reason most of us try to convince, impress or control others is because we have a hard time trusting God to work things out. In other words, 'our talk issue, is a trust issue.'
3) Be slow to anger! If you observe the first two points you'll tend to come out all right on number three. It'll just happen. You can make progress on these three things - and you can start today. And if you do it consistently year after year you'll get to the end of your life and say to yourself, 'I'm so grateful that I took the wisdom of God seriously.'
