LISTEN

Do you often feel like you and God are able to solve all your problems yourself? Maybe that you really don’t need a “human” to share with?

Is it because maybe you have been hurt one too many times by someone not holding your words in confidence or fear of being misunderstood?

Or is it too hard to be vulnerable and open with someone because you don’t want to be wounded somehow?

Do you think that is how God really wants us to live? Living more isolated, afraid to share with others? Didn’t Jesus have a few special friends, His disciples, whom He shared with?

Shouldn’t we live like the saying, “No man is an island?”

Do you believe that saying, and live it out, both as a person needing others and as a person extending yourself to others?

 

Yes, I do believe and know in my heart that God is always there, ready to listen to us, both in our joys and sorrows. After all, He is Abba, our Father, who loves us more than anyone else in this world! He created us and knew us even before the world was created.

But, sometimes in our humanness, isn’t it nice to have another physical human there to listen to us?

 

Photo courtesy of Ken Whytock under Creative Commons License (CC BY-NC 2.0)

 

I believe that God does provide for us, people who can support us, pray for and with us, and share in our time of need. We need to keep our eyes and heart open to seek out those people.

One blessing that I think we tend to under-use is the gift of LISTENING.

Think about it–Do you try to take time to really listen to people who might need a listening ear and heart?

 

I had the privilege of really thinking about that thought this past week for a few reasons. One reason is because I received a text from a friend one day this week asking if I was working or available that day or the next day because they wanted to share their stressful week’s events with me. It worked out perfectly that I received that message just as I was heading home from coffee with another friend, and I did have some time before my next commitment.

I was both grateful and humbled that this friend wanted to share with me as my listening ears had never been sought out before.

I tried very hard to just be present and LISTEN, not imparting any judgments, just having empathy for what they were going through.

We then shared about other happenings and events in our lives and I felt the best thing I could do was pray with and for the person and the situation. So, I first asked if that would be okay and that is what we did. I felt that when I left, my friend was a little more peaceful just through my listening and sharing in their experience.

Can you think of a time when you just needed someone to LISTEN to you?

 

 

 

I have come to realize how important it is to just stop and LISTEN to people….

…not offer solutions or answers to what they are going through…

…just sitting there, focusing your attention on the person sharing….

…trying to understand what they felt going through their experience…

….not judging or condemning them…

….just letting them share.

May I encourage you to take time to really LISTEN to people, especially in their times of trials and struggles? Be Christ to them!

It is also vital that we take time to LISTEN to God talking to us! Daily He reminds us how much He loves us and how He is working continually in our lives. When we LISTEN to Him we are filled with His love, peace, and joy.

Photo courtesy of Art4TheGlryOfGod by Sharon under Creative Commons License (CC BY-ND 2.0)

 

Sometimes I think we may “hear” the audible voice of God maybe in some decision we are trying to make but often I think we can “listen” to God talking to us through…

…His beautiful creation

...the silence of the night

…something someone else shares with us

…inspiring music

…all those “God orchestrated moments”

…His Word

 

We need to always keep our eyes and heart open to listening to God talking to us.

 

While mulling over these thoughts in my mind and penning these thoughts, I ran across this quote that I want to leave you with:

“Be a good listener, Your ears will never get you in trouble.” –Frank Tyger

 

My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. –James 1:19 (NIV)

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. –John 10:27-28 (NIV)