Listen More

A recent psychology survey assessed people's self-perception of their conversation-listening skills. The findings revealed that 96% of participants believed they were good listeners. However, the report also indicated that individuals only retained approximately half of the information communicated to them!

Scripture teaches us to be patient, still, quiet, and attentive regarding God and listening to Him. The same counsel can apply to our relationships with others. To maximize those essential connections, we must become better listeners. One of those verses that put these instructions into perspective is James 1:19, which says, "My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry."
The idea is that we would control our minds and mouths to hear those around us fully. Connecting with someone is hard if you're not truly listening to them. You might hear what is being said, but listening is different. Listening involves an ongoing effort of concentration and attentiveness.

Listening also plays a key role in a conflict. You can make matters worse with your mouth if you rush to judgment and respond without all the facts. Thus, the adage is true: "It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt."
Armed with this knowledge, let us prayerfully seek to control our tongues. The transformative power of prayer in improving our communication skills cannot be overstated. Personally, I have found that praying before communicating with others is indispensable. Despite the natural inclination of my flesh to judge, be sarcastic, and mean, I have experienced the higher ways of God. His purpose for our communication is to build others up, and listening is the key to achieving this. I encourage you to embark on this journey of transformation through prayerful communication.

To achieve these goals, consider the following: Just as you would turn off the TV or lower the radio to minimize distractions when in a conversation, be diligent in removing whatever may be distracting your attention so you can listen to God and those around you.
Therefore, let us heed the command of Scripture to be ‘quick to listen.’ This is not just a suggestion but a duty and responsibility we have towards God and others. By doing so, we will not only hear from God but also more effectively represent Christ in our communication with others.