“My dear brothers and sisters, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger, for human anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness” (James 1:19-20).

Mindful.
Thoughtful.
Peaceful.

These are code words between me and the Holy Spirit. I have a passionate personality. I’m sure it has its upside but I often feel the downside– I interrupt, talk longer than I should, and always with the zeal I’m feeling in the moment.

One day, while praying for wisdom, these verses dropped in my heart. “Lord, help me be quick to listen (mindful), and slow to speak (thoughtful), and slow to [emotion] (peaceful).” I realized anger or wrath (as some translations word it) aren’t my issue as much as passion or emotion so I started quoting it this way: quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to emotion.

Simple instruction

In response to my prayer for wisdom, the Holy Spirit whispered these three simple words: mindful, thoughtful, peaceful.

The context James was conveying in these passages is very important. He went on to say, “Therefore, ridding yourselves of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent, humbly receive the implanted word, which is able to save your souls” (James 1:21). Our soul is defined as our mind, will, and emotions. You can see how this perfectly points back to his opening instruction. But first, it will take humility and discipline.

Humility is a lowering of one’s self in a posture to serve and receive instruction. And the Word only helps us when we take the time, or discipline, to position ourselves regularly to hear it.

But it wouldn’t be enough to just hear the Word, would it?

“Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (James 1:22). In other words, if we don’t apply what we’re hearing, there will be no change (that’s called deception: to think hearing is enough).

“Because if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like someone looking at his own face in a mirror. For he looks at himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of person he was. But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres [continues in it], and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer who works [at it]— this one will be blessed in what he does. If anyone thinks he is religious without controlling his tongue, his religion is useless and he deceives himself” (James 1:23-26).

Full Circle

It’s not enough for me to hear the Holy Spirit whisper “mindful, thoughtful, peaceful” and go on without intentional application. I may fail a thousand times, but it would be better to at least try to control my tongue than to walk in some kind of presumed (and deceptive) religion.

So often, we pick apart the scriptures but context is always important. James wasn’t talking about one thing in verses 19-20 and something else in 22-25. It’s good to remember: all the parts form the whole.

To be a doer, I must first be a hearer– mindful.

When I do speak, I want my words to mean something– thoughtful.

And always with a heart full of reverence for Christ, following His example– peaceful.

I pray these code words help you as much as they’ve helped me. I haven’t mastered them yet but I’m thankful for the ministry of the Holy Spirit who is so good to bring back to our remembrance all things. May we all be molded more and more into the image of Christ. And remember…

our religion is useless if we can’t control our tongue.