Are you listening, or waiting to speak?
When we converse do we really listen to what others are saying?
American writer and poet Alice Duer Miller wrote:-
“People love to talk but hate to listen. Listening is not merely not talking; though even that is beyond most of our powers; it means taking a vigorous, human interest in what is being told us. You can listen like a blank wall or like a splendid auditorium where every sound comes back richer and fuller.”
That made me think that if we truly listened to each other on a personal and international level a lot of the world’s problems would be solved, or more importantly would never develop and if we are not capable of listening to each other, what, realistically, are our chances of hearing God’s voice, actually listening to and understanding what He says?
To listen we have to focus our attention on the speaker, the better we listen, the better we understand. To listen to God we have to focus on Him. “So take care how you listen; for whoever has, to him more shall be given, and whoever does not have, even that he thinks he has shall be taken away from him.” Luke 18:8.
So in speaking, listen to what you are saying so you:-
“SPEAK in such a way that others love to LISTEN to you, and LISTEN in such a way that others love to SPEAK to you.” Anon.
Do the same for Almighty God.
Bill Lee
King’s Lynn Christian Fellowship