How can the saying, “Measure twice, cut once” be actionable to us other than for just construction projects?

Let’s face it, we all get angry at times. Even those who have walked closely with Jesus for decades are subject to regretting their response after becoming angry over something, or at someone.

Thankfully, we have a very specific prescription from God’s Word for how to avoid and mitigate those times when we ‘blow it’ out of anger.

James 1:19-22 says,

“Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls. But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.”

Thinking out loud is a habit that can be broken! However, like changing any bad habit it’s going to take discipline, self-control, and an iron clad game-plan in order to overcome this very destructive tendency that we all are tempted to fall into.

James goes on a little further in the chapter to say in 1:26,

“If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and does not control his tongue but deludes his own heart, this person’s religion is worthless.

When we take the time to think twice before blurting out whatever comes to mind in the moment, we’re much more likely to be in alignment with the principle James has laid out for us to follow.