Prayer – Lord, I am listening to You. Help me to process
what You are saying and use it to improve my listening skills so that I may
hear others and help them to hear You, too.
Fools think their own way is right, but the wise
listen to others. Proverbs 12:15
Meditate. Read God’s word and listen to what He is saying.
Listen. Can you stop talking long enough to hear what
someone else is saying?
 |
| Are you like a stubborn ole goat? You just won't listen? |
Active
listening is a communication skill that involves going beyond
simply hearing the words that another person speaks but also seeking to
understand the meaning and intent behind them. It requires being an active
participant in the communication process.
Active listening techniques include:
·
Being fully present in the conversation
·
Showing interest by practicing good eye contact
·
Noticing (and using) non-verbal cues
·
Asking open-ended questions to encourage further responses
·
Paraphrasing and reflecting back what has been said
·
Listening to understand rather than to respond
·
Withholding judgment and advice
In communication, active listening is important because it keeps you engaged with your conversation partner in a positive way. It also makes the other person feel heard and valued. This skill is the foundation of a successful conversation in any setting—whether at work, at home, or in social situations.
Listen. In Proverbs 12:15 Solomon tells us that fools don’t
listen—they are so caught up in themselves and they think their way is the only
way. How many times have you encountered that? Does it help you in
communicating with others…or even in listening to them? Be like the wise man
and listen to others. That may take putting aside your own wants and desires so
that you can just hear what they have to say. Will it be worth it? More than
likely, Yes. Yes, because that person will feel like they matter to you since
you were willing to listen to them. Would they be as willing to listen to you?
That may be another matter, but what is important is that you had the integrity
to put others first.
Is there any
encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any
fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate?
Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one
another, and working together with one mind and purpose. Don't be selfish;
don't try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than
yourselves. Don't look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in
others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Philippians
2:1-5
Can you listen to others without interjecting your own
opinion or thoughts? Will you listen without interrupting them? The choice is
yours. Once again, we have choices to make that will show our true
character—are we following God or our own selfish interests?
Anyone with ears to
hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the
churches. To everyone who is victorious I will give fruit from the tree of life
in the paradise of God. Revelation 2:7
Verse of Salvation ~ I tell you the truth, those who
listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They
will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death
into life. John 5:24
© 2023 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All
rights reserved.
All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless
otherwise noted.
New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale
House Foundation.
Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream,
Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.
Books by Mickey M.
Hunacek
Available as e-books or paperbacks at Amazon.com
Parenting Day By Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character
Coins in the Bible: New Testament Stories
No comments:
Post a Comment