Daily Lenten Reflection – Thursday of the First Week of Lent (February 26, 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).

These are simple words, yet they confront daily behavior directly. Most problems in relationships, families, and even faith begin here. People speak quickly, react instantly, and allow anger to take control. Listening is often neglected. This daily Lenten reflection brings attention to a habit that quietly shapes the heart.

To be quick to listen requires humility. It means stepping back, paying attention, and allowing truth to be heard before responding. Many listen only to reply, not to understand. This leads to misunderstanding, division, and unnecessary conflict. Scripture calls for something different. It calls for restraint.

Being slow to speak is not silence without purpose. It is discipline. Words once spoken cannot be taken back. Careless speech damages trust and reveals what is within. A person who controls speech shows control over the heart. This is not weakness. It is strength guided by wisdom.

Being slow to anger is even more challenging. Anger feels justified, especially when one believes to be right. But uncontrolled anger distorts judgment and leads to sin. It pushes truth aside and replaces it with reaction. Scripture does not deny that anger exists. It commands that it must not rule.

Lent is a time to examine not only actions but reactions. How quickly do words come out. How often does anger take over. These are not small matters. They reveal the condition of the heart.

The call is clear. Listen first. Speak with care. Resist anger. When the heart is disciplined in these simple ways, it begins to reflect the order that God desires.