“…Just THINK… how much better off I’d be… if I was listening to ‘others’ … all those years, rather than ‘listening to myself’…”

Can you hear me now?  When we ignore what others … and what they have to say… it’s the same as us saying… ‘You don’t count… but I do.’  We are saying that our thoughts, words, and deeds… are more important than you… and what you have to say.’  You are not important.

James 1:19-21- My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,  because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.  Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

We only have to listen to that ‘inner-voice’ … telling us to ‘keep quite.’  Interrupting someone is the height of disrespect…. A serious case of PRIDE…and EGO.  Listening is an issue of the HEART.  A good, attentive, listener… is a person of great humility.  It’s saying… You’re important to me.  I care what you have to say.

Rick Warren says… ‘If we listen like we are looking for gold or silver… then we are really… on a quest for WISDOM.  A good listener is also a person of great WISDOM.

Who to listen to?  How do we determine the right voice to listen to?  Will we listen to the ‘voice of God’… or the ‘voice of the World?’  The voice of EVIL… or the voice of ‘wisdom and righteousness.’  Listening is a choice… like everything. 

The ‘voice of God,’ does not tell us what we ‘want to hear’… rather… what we NEED to hear.  The Apostle John, tells us in…John 16:13 …. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.

We have… but to choose…the God of Follywood… or the God of ‘knowledge and understanding… the God of Love?’

And YES… from a personal perspective… I could write a book on “The art of ‘not listening.’” In my former life … listening was not one of my better characteristics.  I felt that I was right and had little time to listen to the view point of others.  Today… I’m a better listener… but STILL in a learning mode… trying to put others ahead of me.  As I have aged… I find it easier.  Thanks be to God.

Just THINK… how much better off I’d be… if I was listening to ‘others’ … all those years ago… rather than ‘listening to myself.’

So… here’s listing to you. …..Blessings… cjlb… 7/9/2018