Maintaining a spiritual focus has allowed my strength to endure and overcome trails and tribulations. I invite you to meditate on the thought of the month provided by:

Rev. Wayne and Andrea Purcell
The Word Made Truth Ministry
76 Livingston Street
Asheville, North Carolina 28801

(828) 279-8562

Rev. Wayne and Andrea Purcell also have a prison ministry. Please feel free to ask questions pertaining to the thought of the month.

The Blessing of Listening!

James 1:19-27

19My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. 21Therefore, 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.

22Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.

26If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. 27Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Comments:

James the brother of Jesus is credited with writing the book of James. In the verses above he emphasizes the importance of being quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry. I can imagine, he learnt the significance of this behavior from observing Jesus up close. Jesus was often provoked with questions that people didn’t necessarily want an answer too. Jesus always listened intently; spoke purposely, without anger and but with power, authority, and wisdom.

We as people, both in religion and in the world, often find ourselves in the mist of conflicts and misunderstandings due to our lack of good listening skills. Could it be due to the reality that we are not following God’s word and as a manner of fact, going totally in the opposite direction?

First let us determine what is listening and what it’s not. Listening is to give close attention with the purpose of hearing; to give ear; to hearken, to attend. Listening is not waiting for the other person to shut up so you can speak. It is no wonder there are so many conflicts in relationships with our lack of understanding and desire of what it take to be a good listener. Many times during the life of Jesus, he would tell his disciples things that they could not understand do their lack of ability to listen.

A good listener realizes that by listening he/she is more in tune with God. Listening is the best protection to make sure the enemy is defeated and you are blessed. Remember the words describing Jesus on the cross “He didn’t say a mumbling word.” Be very clear, when Jesus was doing his most important work; dying for our sins and reconciling us back to God, he knew not to let the enemy have place. He focused inwardly on the mission that the Father had called him to perform. We too must learn to quietly face the enemy. Many times we open our mouth before we should and provide the tools the enemy uses to defeat us.

When we listen prayerfully, humbly, and maturely God will direct us to the proper time and temperament to speak. Remember, the blessing of following God’s instructions (be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry) is the ability to overcome the trials of this world and the power to live a righteous life.

So the next time you are tempted to speak to fast, become angry quickly, and slow to listen, remind yourself that you are setting yourself up to be defeated by the enemy, ineffective in the work of Kingdom Building, and tying up your blessings from Almighty God.

Prayer:

Most Merciful and Loving God,

Thank you for your patience and goodness. I confessed that I have failed to please you by not being the listener you would desire me to be. Most kind God, plant a greater longing within by heart that I might strive to be the listener that would be pleasing in your sight. Give me spiritual ears as well as eyes that I may discern your divine and everlasting will. Thank you for the blessed assurance that when I listen (to God first, to the inner voice inside of me, and to my neighbors), I will obtain the ability to overcome the wiles of the enemy and be found to be a mature, victorious, and blessed soldier in the army of the Lord.

In the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen

Coping.org gives the following instruction to improve one’s listening skills:

• Listen carefully so that you will be able to understand, comprehend, and evaluate. Careful listening will require a conscious effort on your part. You must be aware of the verbal and nonverbal messages (reading between the lines).
• Be mentally and physically prepared to listen. Put other thoughts out of your mind. Your attention will be diverted from listening if you try to think of answers in advance.
• You can't hear if YOU do all the talking. Don't talk too much.
• Think about the topic in advance, if possible. Be prepared to listen.
• Listen with empathy. See the situation from the other's point of view. Try to put yourself in their shoes.
• Be courteous; don't interrupt. Take notes if you worry about forgetting a particular point.
• Avoid stereotyping individuals by making assumptions about how you expect them to act. This will bias your listening.
• Listen to how something is said. Be alert for what is left unsaid.
• Make certain everyone involved gets an opportunity to voice their opinions. Don't let one person dominate the conversation.
• Face those you are talking with, lean slightly forward, and make eye contact. Use body to show your interest, concern.