Really listen!

James 1:19, 20

“Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God”

Some one once told me that God gave us two ears so we might listen twice as much and one mouth so we might speak half as much.

Most relationships need to take this passage to heart. Much of what Paige and I need to do when counseling people is to teach them to listen to one another. Hearing and listening are often two different things. You may acknowledge that a person is speaking to you but when you really pay attention to what they are saying you are beginning to listen.

We get into trouble because we do not listen to one another and then we response without really understanding what the person is saying. Many of the walls in relationships are built because we have been too quick to speak and have not truly listened to the person.

Here is a exercise to practice; when someone is speaking to you, fight thinking about your response. Focus in on what they are saying. Many times people will say one thing and mean something totally different or they will say one thing looking for a reaction from you and will make a decision as to what more they will share with you based on your reaction. If someone is taking the time to talk with you, it is important that we learn to listen.

God is always listening to us. He knows our hearts. He knows how to respond. You will know how to respond to someone if you really listen to him or her. If you have a habit of judging quickly before you know their heart chance are you will do the same to God.

Practice listening, it may change every relationship in your life.