Learn how to follow God’s example in communication
“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.”
-James 1:19 (KJV)
God knows the number of stars in every galaxy, the weight of the oceans, and even the number of hairs on our heads. There is no question we could ask that He cannot answer.
If you were to ask Him about the dinosaurs, He could give you the answer instantly—or even take you back to see them for yourself. He can bring you to any moment in history, for there is nothing beyond His knowledge or power. He knows our thoughts before we think them, our words before we speak them, and our actions before we take them.
“For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.”
-Psalm 139:4 (KJV)
Yet, despite knowing exactly what we will say, He still listens. He does not interrupt. He does not dismiss our words as unimportant. Instead, He allows us to speak freely, making us feel heard and valued.
As Christians, we should strive to reflect this divine patience in our own conversations. James 1:19 reminds us to be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger. Too often, we are quick to respond, eager to prove a point, or driven by emotion rather than wisdom. But true Christlike communication requires restraint, humility, and a heart that prioritizes listening over reacting.
Today, let’s seek to follow God’s example—listening with patience, speaking with wisdom, and responding with grace.
Reflective Questions:
1. Do you find yourself listening more than you speak, or do you often interrupt?
2. How can you practice being “swift to hear” in your daily interactions?
3. In what situations do you need to work on being “slow to anger”?
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for always listening to me, even when You already know what I will say. Help me to follow Your example—to be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger. Teach me to listen with patience, to speak with wisdom, and to reflect Your love in all my conversations. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Thank you for reading. God bless you!
Speak as Christ would speak.
All Scripture in Steps Towards Eternity Daily Devotional is from the King James Bible. (KJV)
Scriptures marked KJV are taken from the KING JAMES VERSION (KJV): KING JAMES VERSION, public domain in The United States. Pathway365 is based in the United States and is governed by its laws. Outside of the United States, you’ll need to check the copyright laws in your country before use.
Scripture quotations from The Authorized (King James) Version. Rights in the Authorized Version in the United Kingdom are vested in the Crown. Reproduced by permission of the Crown’s patentee, Cambridge University Press