Monday, March 14, 2016

Listen With Your Heart

Lent – Day 34 - Today is the day to prepare your heart, mind, and soul so that you would be willing to conform to the image of Christ.

Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others. A fool is quick-tempered, but a wise person stays calm when insulted. Proverbs 12:15-16

A wise person stays calm when insulted! That is pretty strong stuff. Good character. Think about Jesus when He was arrested, tried and then crucified. He didn’t get mad and demand His own way although He knew He was innocent when the guards arrested Him (Luke 22:47-53). He didn’t argue or put up a fight with Annas, Caiaphas or Pilate (John 18:12-40) as He was tried. He willingly carried His cross until (John 19:17, Mark 15:21) the soldiers had someone else carry it to Golgotha, the site of the crucifixion. Jesus listened to others. He heard them calling to Him asking for healing...like the leper in Matthew 8:2-3…like the Roman officer with a paralyzed servant in Matthew 8:5-13…like the two blind men in Matthew 20:30-34…and like the woman whose thoughts Jesus heard and responded to heal her of bleeding issues in Mark 5:25-34. Today Jesus hears our pleas for healing—physically, emotionally and spiritually—and responds. Do we listen to others like Jesus listens to us? Listening without judgment? Listening without our own agenda or solution to their problems? Listening with a caring heart? It is tempting to think that our way is right…but if we listen to others we may see a new way—it may even be a God inspired wise way. Consider listening.

Prayer ~ Lord God, help us to listen with our hearts, not just our ears. May our eyes show us as much as our ears. Please inspire us with Your wisdom to see what is right, true and good as we serve others for You.
© 2016 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.
All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.
Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.

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