Proverbs 19:11-12 - A man of great wrath will pay the penalty, for if you deliver him, you will only have to do it again. Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.

This passage speaks about the importance of patience and self-control. The first verse warns that a person who is quick to anger and lacks self-control will face consequences - if others rescue them from one situation, they will likely just get angry and cause trouble again. The second verse then gives the wise advice to listen to counsel and instruction. Being humble and willing to learn from others will help a person gain wisdom over time. Together, these verses teach an important lesson about patience. Anger and wrath are dangerous and often lead to further trouble. But with patience, self-control, and a willingness to learn, we can gain wisdom and avoid unnecessary conflicts in life. This requires humility - admitting we do not have all the answers and being open to advice and correction from God and others.

This passage convicts me in an area I often struggle with - patience and anger management. When situations don't go my way or people wrong me, my first instinct is often to get angry and lash out. But as these verses remind us, that only leads to more trouble down the road. God calls me to a higher standard - to exhibit patience, self-control, and humility even when I face injustice or frustration. And the promise is that in time, as I submit to God's training and instruction in these areas, I will gain wisdom. It's easy to justify my anger by pointing to others' wrongs. But God makes it clear that I am responsible for controlling my own response. The wise person holds their tongue, patiently endures hardship, and receives counsel. As I reflect on my life, I can see many times where my angry outbursts only made situations worse. I ended up having to apologize and make amends later on. But through God's grace, I've also seen growth in this area. As I've submitted to Him over the years, He has produced more patience and self-control in me. He promises to complete that work if I continually yield to His Spirit and instruction.

Lord, thank You for being patient with me, even when I have lashed out in anger instead of exhibiting the fruit of patience and self-control. Forgive me for the times I have caused more conflict through my lack of humility. I admit that I still have much to learn in this area. Help me take to heart the wisdom in this passage. When situations arise that evoke my anger, give me the wisdom to hold my tongue, walk away to pray, and receive counsel. Replace my wrath with patience, my pride with humility. Continue to conform me to the image of Christ through the work of Your Spirit. Amen.