Notice what happens when something exciting happens to you; you can’t wait to share it with someone else. The same happens when you experience extreme bad news; you want to share it with someone to ease the pain of sorrow. Do you share with just anyone? No way! You share with someone you know will listen. More often than I would like for it to happen, my wife will share something with me but my mind is far away; I am not listening. She then asks, “Are you listening to me?” I feel like a chump because I know the importance of listening, but at that moment failed miserably.
Have you ever wondered way God gave you two ears but only one mouth? God gave us two ears but only one mouth. Some people say that’s because He wanted us to spend twice as much time listening as talking. Others claim it’s because He knew listening was twice as hard as talking. In either case, the conclusion is clear: you need to be a good listener. Often times you may hear what is being said, but you do not really listen. To really listen requires hearing the words spoken, the tone of voice of the speaker, processing all that in your cranium, and then being very careful what you say; sometimes it is best to say little or nothing.
God wants you to listen to what He tells you in the words of Scripture. Stop. Pay close attention. Let the verse(s) sink deep within your soul. “Now then, my sons, listen to me, and do not depart from the words of my mouth” (Prov. 5:7). “The words of my mouth” are none other than the words of the Holy Bible or the Scriptures. God commands us to “listen” to Him. Do it now, not later.
Listening let’s the other person, including God, know that you love them and want to be involved in the situation at hand. You need to sharpen those listening skills, especially, to the One that matters most!! “Are you listening to Me?”
