Ready to Listen
Listening is difficult for many of us. Often, we like to hear our own words more than the words of others. It takes us a while to focus in on what another person is saying to us. As they are speaking, we are thinking of what we want to say next, so we miss a lot of what they are saying, and we don't take it as seriously as we should. I am not saying this to include everyone, of course, but it seems to be a common problem. Job spoke too quickly when he was brought to his knees in great loss and pain. The best thing would have been to cry out to God and listen. Instead, he talked too much. Once God replied to his inquiry, Job confessed that he was ready to be quiet and listen to God. (Job 40:3-5) We all need to be reminded of this from time to time.
We can't really know what is going on with another person until we listen. We don't really know the whole story about something, until we have heard all of the facts and until we know the impact it has had on others. The only way to find out those things and really connect with others is to listen carefully and search out everything important. We need to do this before we speak, not during or after we speak. This saves us a lot of heartache. I know it is a cliche, but that is why God gave us 2 ears and 1 mouth. We should listen twice as much as we talk. James knew this truth, and he gave it to us when he said, "Be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger." (James 1:19) However, Solomon had a lot to say about speaking too soon in his proverbs, too. Let's ask God to teach us this lesson. Then, let's be quiet and listen to what He says to us. He can and will teach us this valuable truth, if we are ready to listen.
#NHBaptistdotorg
Tomorrow, I intend to read Job 42 and Psalms 1-2.
We can't really know what is going on with another person until we listen. We don't really know the whole story about something, until we have heard all of the facts and until we know the impact it has had on others. The only way to find out those things and really connect with others is to listen carefully and search out everything important. We need to do this before we speak, not during or after we speak. This saves us a lot of heartache. I know it is a cliche, but that is why God gave us 2 ears and 1 mouth. We should listen twice as much as we talk. James knew this truth, and he gave it to us when he said, "Be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger." (James 1:19) However, Solomon had a lot to say about speaking too soon in his proverbs, too. Let's ask God to teach us this lesson. Then, let's be quiet and listen to what He says to us. He can and will teach us this valuable truth, if we are ready to listen.
#NHBaptistdotorg
Tomorrow, I intend to read Job 42 and Psalms 1-2.