Being Slow To Anger And Rich In Love
BRD REFLECTION 2025
Revelation 22 and Psalm 145 (NIV)
(Kuah Ann Nee from SWR Committee)
READ:
For this devotion, Psalm 145 verse 8 spoke to me: “The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.”
OBSERVE:
Psalm 145 is a psalm of praise written by King David. I feel a sense of awe, joyfulness and celebration when I read the psalm.
APPLY:
The first application lesson that came to my mind is that saying praises and listening to praises evoke positive emotions. I should praise or say words of affirmation more often daily.
I also recall two recent interactions with my family members that involved mild grumbling about forgetfulness. I was surprised about the annoyed feelings that surfaced as I recalled the incidents and I surrendered these to God in prayer.
They were small matters at that point in time. And maybe that was why it did not occur to me to bring them to God. But I know that negative emotions, if left buried, can accumulate, fester and turn into grudges. Thus, I am immensely thankful that God used this reflection to bring me to the verse so that I can have this opportunity to confess and process my emotions with Him.
Being gracious, compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love are qualities of Jesus that I hope to emulate. I am reminded that I cannot try to develop these on my own. Rather, I can make time to sit quietly and patiently with our Lord, surrender my own agenda or wants and allow Him to fill my heart with love as I learn to let go.
DO:
I will be generous with positive words of praise and affirmation. This is an act of love that I can do for the people I encounter.
PRAY:
Heavenly Father Lord, I am reminded of Your command to: “…Love one another. As I have loved you, you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35 NIV). I find it difficult to be an instrument of love when my heart is not always filled with love. I pray for humility and sensitivity to be able to identify and surrender things that prevent me from receiving Your love daily. May I take time to empty my heart of these and fill it with Your love daily. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
