Quick to listen, slow to speak

The closer you get to Jesus the more humble you become and less is your need to be in control. One area of control that I’m still seeking God’s help with is to become a better listener. You know, countering the type of listening where you are multitasking, not providing eye contact, or interrupting before someone has completed their thought.

Endeavoring to become a better listener is not just the physical sense of hearing but the “spiritually-profound” sort of listening. This type of listening is humbling and facilitates empathy and compassion, taking the attention off of ourselves and focusing on the needs of others.

Amy Lawton wrote in the, American Religion Humility and Democracy:

     To listen without humility is to presume a right to evaluate, to judge, 
     and to control the conversation. Each of these acts is an act of dominance.
     Listening is humility when it relinquishes dominance. Therefore, if listening 
     helps us to be more humble, then being a better listener can help us to 
     counter the need to evaluate, judge or control the conversation and others.” 

Yes, there is so much to learn about our Lord, others, and ourselves if we are more quick to listen and slow to speak (James 1:19, NLT).

My niece Dani summed up the desire to be a better listener beautifully when she wrote:

I’m learning the less I talk the more I’m learning through my ears, eyes and heart. For some time now, I have been praying for and working on how to shut my mouth. 

Not silencing myself, but rather taking the time to listen and then taking time to process/think before responding. I’m learning that not everything needs a response.

I ask that you all help me in prayer with the following being the prayer:

Job 6:24 - Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand wherein I have erred.

Quick to Listen, Slow to Speak!

GiGi❤️

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