Do you remember playing the yard game “Red Light, Green Light!” as a kid? It was a type of race where one person, the leader, who stood at the finish line, would call out “Red light!” for the other players to stop running forward, and then “Green light!” for the players to run as fast as they could to get to the finish line first. The leader would switch between the calls, depending on how close the players were getting. But, every kid had to respect the one that was calling the rules of Stop or Go, as in the Red or Green light. If you didn’t listen and obey, or were caught cheating, you were disqualified and out of the game. So you tried really hard to go as fast as you could during Green light, but had to be ready to stop on a dime on Red light and hold very still, until it was time to move forward again.

This morning before church I was having a few moments of devotional time with the Lord, when He pointed out to me in Proverbs the need to use wisdom in recognizing when to stop what I am about to do, and when it was time to start again. The Wisdom chapters of early Proverbs, especially chapter 9, are very telling in what wisdom is: what ‘she’ is trying to say, and how it is best to listen and respond. As I thought more about this concept, my struggle of holding my tongue when angry or frustrated came immediately to mind. The Holy Spirit was at that moment revealing to me the need to listen to Him as He is the one calling the Stop and Go moments in my life.

Let me show you what Scripture says about the topic of our tongue and what we say:
“There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”
Proverbs 12:18

“Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;..If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.”
James 1:19,26

“If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things.
How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing.”
James 3:3-10

Yes, we all have issues with our tongue! It just wants to wag in pride, or lash out in anger, or tear down when we feel hurt. It is at this precise moment that the Holy Spirit is pounding on your door saying, “STOP! Wait! Don’t respond yet! Don’t say that!” He is earnestly trying to get you to pause…..breathe…..consider……rethink…..breathe deeper….obey….
It is only after we actually listen and obey the Spirit’s urging to STOP or pause, that we can begin to think clearer and with better judgment, and use wisdom in how we respond to the intense, emotional situation. How easy is this? HA! NOT EASY AT ALL!. But this is why He is convicting us: we are in training mode to become a better person – one who obeys our Lord and loves others far better today than yesterday. In this is growth, which results in those desired fruits of the Holy Spirit’s work in us!

If when the situation stirs us up, we choose to take a moment, a break, and rethink what we were about to say, or what we were about to do that was going to be done out of seething anger or deep frustration, then perhaps our responses will become more kind, more gentle, and we will be more forgiving in how we treat the other person.

The Holy Spirit, your life’s leader, says:
STOP before you speak. (listen to Him!)
STOP before you act. (listen to Him!)
ALL STOP!!
WHY? Remember to respond in love with: kindness, gentleness, thoughtfulness, humbly, selflessly, sacrificially, mercifully, respectfully, and patiently.
Now, you’re ready to GO!!

“Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.”
Proverbs 9:9

Food for thought: To succeed in this adventurous, exciting game of LIFE, be sure to listen and respond properly to the One who knows the best route for you to take, the speed at which you should go, and the moments you need to take a break and rest. He, the Spirit of God, is the one who will convict, encourage, and direct your heart.

Fun facts: The origin of the “Red light, Green light!” game is unknown. Yet, it has been played for many generations in a multitude of countries worldwide. It promotes listening skills, agility, and observation.

Photo by: Kari Wiseman – Stop, Look and Listen

***Additional scriptures:***

“A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly.
A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.”
Proverbs 15:1-2,4
“And when he (the Helper and Holy Spirit) comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment…”
John 16:8
“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.  And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.“
Galatians 5:16-26