Are we listeners?

In Chapter 11 of Dan Allenders' The Healing Path he describes us as third graders who are "straining our arms to stretch higher than our peers". We only want to listen to others so that we may tell a related story about ourselves (pg. 211).


It is so much easier sometimes to talk and give our opinions rather than to just listen and focus our attention on the other person and their story, we ask questions that relate back to a story we want to share when we should be hearing the story of another. We have lost the art of listening, whether that be too our friends, family, strangers or God. 


James 1 tells us, "My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do" (James 1:19-25). 


We want to be heard by God, and we want to hear God but we do not listen we do not take the time to seek Him, to hear His voice. If we strive daily to listen more and talk less; to truly hear there stories instead of wanting to share ours in all our relationships there is a chance they will grow deeper than we could ever imagine. 


- T. 

Me and my Bestie at my Grad :)