Your First Reaction

Most of us don’t choose our first reaction. Someone cuts us off, criticizes our work or pushes the button only family knows how to push, and the heat is out of our mouth before we think. Afterward we tell ourselves that’s just how we are.

But first reactions can be trained. Anyone who has learned a hard skill knows this. At first your body does what it always did. With practice, a new response becomes the first one. Obeying God when you don’t feel like it works the same way. Each time you choose patience, the next time gets a little easier.

Proverbs puts the stakes plainly: “He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.” And Paul describes the training: “bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.”

You won’t become slow to wrath overnight. But you can practice one pause today. One breath, one prayer, before the words come out.