Latest Devotion
A Message of Reconciliation
By: Gina Welsh
Monday, August 31, 2026
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry... James 1:19
We don't mean to, but sometimes we're overly focused on ourselves in a conversation. But to love people like God does requires us to focus more on others. In the past, whenever I read this scripture, I would put it into practice by watching what I said, because I knew it was important to speak less and listen more. It seemed obvious that if I was the one doing most of the talking, I wasn't being a very good listener.
But try as I may, I became increasingly frustrated with my inconsistency until I had an opportunity to counsel women who needed to make some tough decisions. Their decisions were difficult because they had serious, long-term consequences. My role wasn't to make the decision for them; it was to listen to them and offer godly advice. My goal was to support them and to help them make decisions they wouldn't regret later. But the most important person in those conversations wasn't me, it was the person I was listening to!
I couldn't help thinking that our conversations with God are similar. As we pour out our hearts, God isn't pushy, impatient, or judgmental. He counsels us wisely like a father speaking to his child. He is extremely patient, slow to anger, and willing to help if we're willing to listen. Even when we make poor decisions, God forgives our mistakes and patiently listens as we cry out to Him for help. God always provides a way for reconciliation when we repent and obey.
For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5:19 (NLT)
Whenever I'm having a tough conversation with someone, I'm learning that things go much better when I remember how much God loves them. No matter what they've done in the past, I tell them about God's wonderful message of reconciliation. Then, I give it to God. He's in charge of convincing them to make the right choices in life, the ones that won't fill them with regrets. My job is to be a good listener and point them toward Christ.
Listening more and speaking less can be challenging, but no matter what anyone's done, Christ died for them! When I keep that in mind, I find myself putting James 1:19 into action by speaking less and listening more.