ACT 7: ALL EARS
let them hear.’ (Luke 8:8)
It's tempting sometimes to make our conversations a means for making ourselves heard rather than genuine consideration for what another person is saying. Can I suggest, this is for me too, that we remove interruptions/distractions and that natural inclination to thinking up what you are going to say next, and actually listen to people.
The first step might be simply to be disciplined in removing distractions. Try to switch off devices or screens if you're around others today.
Call someone for a chat today. Except, try to do less talking than them; make a point of asking questions about their life and be genuinely interested in their answers.
If you have a little more time, make a point of having a Coffee/Tea break with someone. It could be someone you haven't spent time with in a while, or the colleague you sit next to. Take half an hour to really listen to them – make mental notes of any prayer points and commit to pray for them this week.
Jesus always had time for people. From the trembling woman who cautiously touched his clothes to the father desperately worried about his child. Nowhere in the Gospels does he ever say, 'I'm a bit busy at the moment.' Whoever we are, whether young or old, we all long to be listened to. Let someone know that their words and their story are valued today.
Listening is an attitude of the heart, a genuine desire to be with another which both attracts and heals.
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