16 July 2019

A Few Thoughts About Listening

Importance of listening

Listening
B1 Body language
C1 If standing, stance and posture may show we are open to listening or not. Do not authoritatively but compassionately.
C2 If sitting, then sit upright, leaning slightly forward, and not slouching, leaning away, or folding the arms.
C3 Nodding the head occasionally
C4 Not being distracted by the environment or technology (phones, etc.)
C5 Neutral facial to slightly friendly at times. Be genuine. Don’t frown or grimace as if looking bored.
B2 Face and eyes
C1 Show attentiveness. Look at them most of the time.
C2 Show respect
C3 Again, the link above has some pictures showing the difference.
B3 Re-enforcement
C1 Don’t interrupt except for
D1 Clarification
D2 Acknowledgement (stating, “OK, I see, I understand, wow, I’m sorry this happened,” etc.)
C2 Nodding your head once in a while
B4 Believe them
B5 Listening is not giving advice
B6 Some don’ts
C1 Don’t hurry them along
C2 Don’t be doing something else when they are talking
C3 Don’t be judgmental
C4 Don’t correct

Purpose
B1 Love (2nd summary of the Law)
C1 Luke 10:27 NLT The man answered, "'You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.' And, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.
C2 Romans 13:9-10 NLT For the commandments say, "You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet." Theseand other such commandmentsare summed up in this one commandment: "Love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God's law.
C3 Also see Leviticus 19:18, Matthew 19:19, Matthew 22:39, Mark 12:31, Galatians 5:14, and James 2:8.
C4 If we really are going to live according to God’s rules, we must show this kindnessto listen to someone.
B2 Respect for others
C1 Matthew 7:12 NRSV In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets.
C2 1 Peter 3:8 GNB To conclude: you must all have the same attitude and the same feelings; love one another, and be kind and humble with one another.
B3 Help and assistance for others
B4 There are those, however, you hog your time, talk incessantly, etc. There is a Scripture for that, too. These people are called “Compulsive Talkers.”
C1 Proverbs 17:27 NLT A truly wise person uses few words; a person with understanding is even-tempered.
C2 Ecclesiastes 5:2 NLT Don't make rash promises, and don't be hasty in bringing matters before God. After all, God is in heaven, and you are here on earth. So let your words be few.
C3 Proverbs 15:1-2 NLT A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare. The tongue of the wise makes knowledge appealing, but the mouth of a fool belches out foolishness.
C4 Politely point out, “Do you mind if I say something?” If they keep talking, we must just excuse yourself and leave.
C5 A couple of articles that might be helpful (secular source)

How does God listen?
B1 Attentively
B2 Purposefully
B3 His motive is love and respect
B4 He answers prayer in love and wisdom. (If it seems that He does not hear, then It might be the wrong time, the wrong situation, the wrong attitude, sin might be confessed, our spouse is not being treated in a godly manner, there might be selfish, lustful desires in offering the prayer, etc.).

Scriptures
B1 James 1:19 NLT Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.
C1 Many take this passage to remind believers to listen quickly to God’s word and do it.
C2 But why “slow to get angry?” To be consistent, one would understand this to mean slow to get angry at God’s word. This cannot be correct. Especially when in context of James 1:20 NLT Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.
C3 In addition, James 1:21 NLT So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.
C4 One of the ways of getting rid of this filth is with God’s strength and help (grace), listen quickly, speak after listening carefully, and understand the situation and be controlled in anger.
B2 We want God to listen, shouldn’t we listen to our brothers and sisters?
C1 Psalm 66:18-20 NLT If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. But God did listen! He paid attention to my prayer. Praise God, who did not ignore my prayer or withdraw his unfailing love from me.
C2 Psalm 86:5-8 NLT O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive, so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help. Listen closely to my prayer, O LORD; hear my urgent cry. I will call to you whenever I'm in trouble, and you will answer me. No pagan god is like you, O Lord. None can do what you do!

Application
B1 Listen
B2 We need each other
B3 A few testimonies on the importance of listening:
B4 We pray and God listens. He has taught us to listen to each other.
B5 Take time to listen.
B6 God will help us.


James 4:6 NIV But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble."

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