Okay, it's not the ONLY key to life. But goodness! I feel like I say this a lot. Listen. Just listen. Not just to my kids but to others around me. We're surrounded by so much lately, in this season that we're in. So many questions, so many complaints - why are things the way they are? I've been waiting, listening to everything and everyone around me. Then, I'm waiting and listening to what God is saying through all of this. He's been speaking and opening my eyes to many things that I would have otherwise been too busy to see or hear. I'm grateful that He has caused this time to listen.
As a mom, with so much on our plates each day, it's easy to get caught up with how things should work and how things should be. But sometimes we need to listen and see that things might be different than what we expect.
For our children, oh would they listen! Our sinful nature compels us not to listen and so we have to work hard at teaching them to listen - not just to the rules and our requests but to be aware of those around them and the things that are happening around them too. There is something to be learned if we are ready to receive it.
Could you imagine if everyone in the world chose to listen more? How many disagreements would not happen? How many misconceptions or assumptions would not happen? Maybe we’d make less mistakes. We all know this verse in James 1:19:
Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;
There are a lot of angry people out there in the world right now. So many trying to be heard but their voices are getting lost in the circumstances.
Listening is wise, as Proverbs 12:15 states:
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.
How many people are in counselling as a result of not being heard or not being listened too. The weight and hurt of not being heard can be so damaging to our hearts and minds. Most of the time they just want someone to understand that they are going through something. And yet there are those who think no one will listen and refuse counsel.
Making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; - Proverbs 2:2
It's up to us as followers of Christ to be the ear that listens to those who need to be listened to. To receive them with a heart of understanding and ask the Holy Spirit to give us wisdom to know when and what to say.
All of our decisions affect what happens in the future. It's so easy to forget that when our circumstances are overwhelming. But we need to practice stepping back, stopping to listen and doing what's right.
Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future. - Proverbs 19:20
As followers of Christ we have a responsibility to be patient and kind and ready to listen - because God is all these things to us. We have a responsibility to model this to the next generation too.
Let’s pray for wisdom, for guidance, and for God to teach us how to listen more and speak only with love, wisdom and in peace. It’s a daily challenge of course! But He is faithful to help us through.
The definition of listening is to take notice of and act on what someone says; respond to advice or a request.
Here is something to help us remember how to LISTEN with LOVE:
Be ready, listen and watch how God works in your life!
Blessings!