Don't say anything!

Want to know a really good way to see if you have the patience of God?  Well try this verse out.  I DARE YOU! 

“Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.” ~ James 1:19 (NLT)

How many times have you talked instead of listened?  When someone really needed you to hear what they were saying.  You thought they were asking you for help instead of listening.  Maybe they just needed to get their feelings out and you were quick to speak instead.  Or maybe someone “did you wrong” and you need to set them straight.  You may not know that their reason for saying or doing what they did was because they themselves are struggling and are reaching out for help.  Sometimes we get so wrapped up in “I need to be heard” or “He/she made me mad” that we are blinded to the real needs around us.  Christianity isn’t about US being heard or even our feelings that matter.  It is about the OTHERS being heard and our feelings taking a back seat sometimes.  I’m not saying that your feelings don’t matter but what I am saying is let God take care of your feelings, He will!  Let God take care of your needs while you tend to someone else’s needs.