The Art of Listening

Hebrews 2:1 We must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it.

How carefully do we listen to what God reveals? And note I said we, not you, because this applies to everyone. How intent are we on earnestly keeping things private that we should not let sip? God gives all the wisdom, insight, and counsel we need for living. But in the hectic activities, stress and pressures of life, it is easy to totally miss His message or at the least misunderstand what He was trying to show us.

This principle of listening closely applies to other relationships as well as to the people we meet during the day. How many of us have been sharing something we deem really important to us only to get that blank stare or the repeated uh, huhs that tell us this person does not care what I am sharing from my heart? Even worse is telling someone something in private, requesting that it be kept between you only to hear it somewhere in the office later. A good listener can be hard to find. It is an art to be developed over time that shows respect for that person.

We should ask for His help to listen with sensitivity, faithfulness, and remembrance as He speaks. We also need help to listen carefully so that the things He says will not be distorted or discarded.