Two Minutes in the Bible for Menنموونە

Respond, Don't React
A reaction is an immediate reflex based on emotions. People react in anger when they feel insulted. They react by withdrawing when they feel left out. They react with gossip when they feel mistreated. They react defensively when they feel criticized. Reactions seem natural because they are base behaviors that operate without boundaries. A hasty reaction happens in the moment and many times leads to regret. The flesh reacts, but the Spirit leads us to respond.

A measured response, on the other hand, delays its interaction. It is based on the intellect and processed in prayer. So when we receive an email that provokes our pride or hurts our feelings, we refrain from firing back an immediate defense. We remind ourselves that email is helpful for information but less effective for true communication. When a friend or family member makes a disrespectful remark about us at a social gathering, we wait several days before talking with them so we can respond with logic, not emotion. We discuss with them how to keep our relationship whole, not fractured.

So when your blood pressure rises, pause and ask Christ to guard your heart with His peace. When your mind goes to a worst-case scenario, ask the Lord to renew your thinking so you can see His bigger picture at work. When your throat dries and your lips are parched, let the Holy Spirit lubricate your speech with grace. When the hairs stand up on your arm, remember your heavenly Father knows the number of hairs on your head, so He can handle this event or person. Another’s arrogance is agitating, but your humble response invites a calm conversation. Respond in love.

Jesus modeled a loving response in place of an angry reaction (John 7:20-24). A crowd accused Him of being demon possessed, but instead of insulting their arrogance, He appealed to their intellect by involving their knowledge of Moses. He went on to logically explain why it’s okay to heal a broken body on the Sabbath. Indeed, Christ in us calms our spirit so we can respond rationally and respectfully. Our Spirit-led response will bear spiritual fruit. The Lord will use our soft answer to soften a heart in need of a Savior. We pray the other person will respond to Jesus in saving faith.

We hope this plan has encouraged you. If you want to read more from Boyd Bailey's Two Minutes in the Bible for Men, get it here .