Pause before you respond in anger.

Pause before you get offended.

Pause before you make hasty decisions.

Pause before you give up.

Pause before you speak.

Pause and pray first.

Sometimes we can be so quick to respond based on our emotions. I used to be a very emotionally driven person. My emotions were in the drivers seat and it led to many poor choices, regret, and even broken relationships.

If you are like me and this is an area of struggle for you I want to share what has helped me. First, prayer. Ask God to help you pause before you react. Ask Him to guide every word that comes out of your mouth and if it is not from Him to shut your mouth. When He tells you not to say something listen to Him. Don’t ignore His voice or try to justify why you “have or need to” respond in the way your flesh is telling you to respond. Instead, crucify your flesh and obey God and His Word.

Next, purposefully slow down. Slow down before you speak. Think about what you want to say and what you do not want to say. Take your time in responding. If you find yourself getting to emotional tell the other person you need a time out to pray and think about your response. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you the words to say.

Next, don’t let your emotions make you feel like you are out of control. The words we speak really are our choice and we can control them. They do not control us. Don’t use the excuse, “It is just the way I am.” Grow, mature, and learn to respond from a place of submission to God and His will for your life, identity, and actions.

Lastly, when you mess up, don’t fall into the trap of condemnation. Get back up, dust yourself off, use it as a learning experience, and do better moving forward.

Blessings,

Nichole Henson

Fullness of Joy Ministry