Saturday September 1st, 2018 James 1:17-27
You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger? (verse 19)
How often do we take the time to truly listen? Listen with not only our ears but our minds and our hearts? I have been accused by my husband and my children of not listening to them, and if I’m honest with myself and with them, I don’t always listen with 100% of my attention.
We live in a fast-paced world where we are expected to multi-task, and society frowns upon those who can’t do it all. I know that I put a lot of pressure on myself to be everything to everyone, and I spread myself too thin. I don’t listen fully and often speak without understanding, and through miscommunication can become offended and perhaps angry as a result.
This passage is a reminder to slow down. It’s not a bad thing to focus our attention on one thing at a time and truly listen and hear the message that others are trying to communicate. Listening is the first step in developing, maintaining and enriching relationships with each other and with God.
God of peace, help us to quiet our minds and slow down so that we might hear and experience the world around us. Amen. — GB
Contributed by Listen
How often do we take the time to truly listen? Listen with not only our ears but our minds and our hearts? I have been accused by my husband and my children of not listening to them, and if I'm honest with myself and with them, I don't always listen with 100% of my attention.
We live in a fast-paced world where we are expected to multi-task, and society frowns upon those who can't do it all. I know that I put a lot of pressure on myself to be everything to everyone, and I spread myself too thin. I don't listen fully and often speak without understanding, and through miscommunication can become offended and perhaps angry as a result.
This passage is a reminder to slow down. It's not a bad thing to focus our attention on one thing at a time and truly listen and hear the message that others are trying to communicate. Listening is the first step in developing, maintaining and enriching relationships with each other and with God.