Just Listen!

Communication – it’s important. Whether it’s written, spoken, through body language or just being silent. A lot can be said in a second – and a lot can change! One thing about it, when God speaks, we need to tune in and listen. Regardless of what we are doing.

Have you ever just stopped to think about what you are – or aren’t – communicating by just not saying ANYTHING? The thing is…it goes beyond YOU! It becomes about the other person. To take the time to actually BE QUIET and JUST LISTEN! Be an ear to hear. Be a shoulder to cry on. Listen.

 
Listening is more than just hearing someone. Have you ever heard the phrase:
     “I hear you but I’m not listening?” 

What a difference. Attention vs. Perception. Have you ever thought you
were being listened to, to only realize nothing at all was getting
through? Kinda hurts, eh? Sometimes, we think someone’s listening when
in fact they are not. Other times, we don’t realize someone is listening
when indeed they are.

I know that for me, it’s easy to hear someone but actually “tune out” of truly listening to what they are saying. For me, listening and not speaking are hard things to do. I always want to state my opinion or thoughts or share my story. Or I get distracted and loose interest in what someone is saying. However, listening is not about me. It’s about shifting my thoughts and putting aside what I want to say to actually listen to what someone else has to say. It’s about a change of perspective, heart and attention.

The last few weeks, I have had the privilege of doing a lot of listening. Whether it be the campers I had the blessing of being able to get to know, a friend that just needed a listening ear and a shoulder to cry on, staff who wanted to share what God has been doing or listening to the voice of my Father. I sat. I kept my mouth shut. I listened. I pondered. As God gave me something to say, I spoke – but the word were few and far between. It was the silence and the listening that spoke more than the words. It was powerful and emotional and real.

I began to realize something. I wasn’t talking, yet I was learning and growing and being challenged and inspired. I didn’t need to ask questions to get the other person to talk. I didn’t need to think about what I was going to say next. I didn’t need to do anything or be anyone other than just be. God was speaking. Through me being quiet and not getting in the way, I was doing the best thing I could have done. Made me realize how many times I got in the way of what God was wanting to do…but I wanted to say something. Or be the “center of attention” or “say the right thing.”

Listening is not about me. It is about God. It’s about what He wants to say and often says, but yet I let myself and my voice get in the way. If not ME it’s what I am doing and therefore I let the distractions get the best of me.

Sometimes the hardest thing for me to do is not say anything – but God has been teaching me so much about how listening can be more beneficial than I realize. Sometimes just letting another person speak is exactly what they need. They don’t necessarily need or even want an answer or an opinion. They just want to be heard – deeply. They want to know they are listened to and are appreciated.

Makes me wonder sometimes what God thinks when He speaks and all we do is talk, and talk, and talk…or “hear” but don’t listen? We answer Him but didn’t really understand cause we were to busy and preoccupied to pay attention to what He was really saying!

Listening is vital. We can learn a lot from what we listen to and who we listen to. We need to be discerning. We need to make sure that we listen to the truth. Listening can harm or bless. Listening can make a difference. Listening makes us move…

When we speak, God listens. Why can’t we give Him the same respect and listen to Him when He speaks to us? He’s always right, knows what’s best and speaks the truth! Maybe even take it one step further – after we are done listening, do what He asks!