Christian Devotional: How To Respond And Not React

This devotion talks about how to not let others' reactivity lead to our own reactivity in return. We are able to respond more wisely as we ground ourselves in God as the "ground of our being" before speaking or acting.
Harmful reactivity and violence can be stopped when we learn to pause, retreat and be still before responding and not react in return.

Transcript

How to respond and not react.

Quote by Shannon Alder,

It is not what they say,

But the reaction that tells you everything you need to know.

Meditation.

People say a lot.

People promise things.

But you can find out who they are by how they react.

The true values and nature of a person are revealed when the heat is on and when the person reacts.

That is when violence often erupts.

That is when people's egos take over.

That is when disrespect and violations happen.

And then you know everything you need to know.

When I see people who are destructive in their reactions,

Even though their words promise all kinds of positive things,

I need to decide where I am and what I want to do.

An Evangelical Christian pastor Charles Swindoll said,

Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.

I can take in the toxins of the other person.

I can allow abuse.

I can react in kind and become just as destructive as the other person.

Or I can find other ways to respond.

I can turn and reach deeper.

I can change direction and find the ground that holds me.

Taking time out helps me to not react in the same way I am reacted to.

When I take time to return to the ground of being,

When I return to the one who created me,

I will find rest.

And I will be protected from those reacting and trying to overpower me.

As I keep myself from reacting and find stillness within.

I will develop confidence that I do not have to react or retaliate.

I will find the strength to resist.

The Bible quote for today is from Isaiah 30 verse 15.

For thus says the Lord God,

The Holy One of Israel,

In returning and rest you shall be saved.

In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength.

Yet you were not willing.

I want to say a prayer.

God in times of reactivity be our refuge and strength.

Let us turn away from the toxins of reactivity and ground ourselves in you.

Then help us to choose how we want to respond.

Amen

Reviews

Helpful. I will use the ending prayer. Thanks! 💝🙏