Slow to Speak

Have you ever thought about how much time we spend listening?   Whether it be in a business meeting, a relationship, or even with God?  There are many people today that hear every word... quickly respond... and then have to apologize and repair damage because they didn’t think through the possible consequences of their answer.  Active listening is something we have to choose to do...but did you know it something God wants us to do as well?  In the book of James, Chapter 1 and verse 19 it says this:  

“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,”

Proverbs 18:13 puts it another more direct way...

“Spouting off before listening to the facts

    is both shameful and foolish.”

It’s much better to spend your time thinking through an answer than mending a fence or repairing relationship damage.  Sometimes you only have one chance to choose the right response in a situation... Be courageous!  Choose to think it through first and answer second... you’ll always be glad you did.  Remember,  two people talking just create noise... one person talking while the other listens creates deeper understanding and connection.  

Fresh Breath

“Get all the advice and instruction you can,

    so you will be wise the rest of your life.”  Proverbs 19:20

When someone holds out a tin of breath mints to you... what’s the first thing that comes to mind?  If you’re like most people,  you think... “Is my breath that bad?”  In the book, Life’s Little Instruction Book author H. Jackson Brown Jr. says this:  “If someone offers you a breath mint, accept it.”  But why? Why is this such good advice?

Because often we don’t realize what we need.  Sometimes we don’t see things as they are, but as we think they should be.  That’s why Proverbs 19:20 is so important.  It tells us to listen to advice and instruction... because if we do, we’ll become wise.  Surround yourself with people you trust and hear them out (even if you disagree at first).  You’ll find yourself making fewer mistakes (and have much better breath in the process).

Listen

“Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the LORD told him. And as Elijah stood there, the LORD passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12 And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper.” 1 Kings 19:11-12

Life is loud.  

During the course of a day you are bound to hear sounds so noisy that you can barely hear yourself think.  Maybe for you it’s the sound of a boss yelling, a teacher correcting the class, or maybe even a child crying for mommy.  For others it’s the scream of regret... or the pounding thump of ridicule.  There is loudness everywhere.  

If we aren’t careful, the noise of the world can drown out the voice of God.  Today’s verse talks about just that... God’s voice wasn’t in the howling windstorm or the booming   earthquake.  Elijah couldn’t even hear it in the roaring fire.  God was communicating with him in a whole new way:  the quiet whisper. 

He still does that today.  God doesn’t raise His voice to communicate with us. He doesn’t signal us in shouts or yells or pointed fingers or accusations.  God whispers.  He nudges.  He speaks to us in the quiet spaces of our heart... not with judgment but in love.  We just have to quiet our spirit enough to hear Him.  

Having trouble connecting with God?   Wondering what He wants you to do with your life?  Retreat to where the sound isn’t... open up the Word... and listen for the gentlest voice you can hear.  God has something to tell you.

Growing And Hearing

According to Prevention magazine, our ears continue to grow throughout the course of our lifetime.  When we are very young, they are proportional to our body size.  After age 10, the growth slows down but continues steadily until we die.  So using this logic, we should have better hearing as we get older… larger ears means better sound processing right?  Not really.  In fact, as we age, our hearing ability actually decreases.  

Sad but true.  

But there is one aspect of our hearing that should improve as we get older… hearing from God.  Why?  Because if we’re doing it right when we’re young… we should be getting to know Him more and more!  Spending time in His word… hearing messages in His church… writing about Him in our journals… telling others about Him when the opportunity comes…  We should be growing closer to Him… and His voice should be getting louder as the shadows grow longer.  2 Corinthians 4 tells us that although we are physically failing over time… we are actually being “renewed day by day” by God.  Want to know what God sounds like?  Spend time with Him.  Pray.  Ask Him to tell you and teach you what you need to know.  And as the years pass… your ability to hear physically may fade… but your capacity to hear from the One that matters will sharpen. 

Hearing

Did you know that your ear is using thousands of moving parts to make hearing happen?  Scientists tell us that certain parts vibrate more than twenty thousand times per second and can distinguish over two thousand different pitches and tones!  So why do so many struggle hearing God?  With such a precision instrument in our possession... why is hearing His voice so difficult?  

Maybe we truly do hear it... just not in our ears.  While I’ve never heard the audible voice of God... I do know that He communicates with me through His Word, the Bible... Every syllable intentional... every page written to impact my life.  Let’s take today and block out distraction... get in a quiet place... open His word... and listen.  There’s a lot He wants to share! 

As They Are

“Get all the advice and instruction you can,

    so you will be wise the rest of your life.”  Proverbs 19:20

When someone holds out a tin of breath mints to you... what’s the first thing that comes to mind?  If you’re like most people,  you think... “Is my breath that bad?”  In the book, Life’s Little Instruction Book author H. Jackson Brown Jr. says this:  “If someone offers you a breath mint, accept it.”  But why? Why is this such good advice?

Because often we don’t realize what we need.  Sometimes we don’t see things as they are, but as we think they should be.  That’s why Proverbs 19:20 is so important.  It tells us to listen to advice and instruction... because if we do, we’ll become wise.  Surround yourself with people you trust and hear them out (even if you disagree at first).  You’ll find yourself making fewer mistakes (and have much better breath in the process).

Slow to Speak

Winston Churchill once said, "Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen."

Have you ever thought about how much time we spend listening?   Whether it be in a business meeting, a relationship, or even with God?  There are many people today that hear every word... quickly respond... and then have to apologize and repair damage because they didn’t think through the possible consequences of their answer.  Active listening is something we have to choose to do...but did you know it something God wants us to do as well?  In the book of James, Chapter 1 and verse 19 it says this:  

“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,”

Proverbs 18:13 puts it another more direct way...

“Spouting off before listening to the facts

    is both shameful and foolish.”

It’s much better to spend your time thinking through an answer than mending a fence or repairing relationship damage.  Sometimes you only have one chance to choose the right response in a situation... Be courageous!  Choose to think it through first and answer second... you’ll always be glad you did.  Remember,  two people talking just create noise... one person talking while the other listens creates deeper understanding and connection.  

Our Ears

According to Prevention magazine, our ears continue to grow throughout the course of our lifetime.  When we are very young, they are proportional to our body size.  After age 10, the growth slows down but continues steadily until we die.  So using this logic, we should have better hearing as we get older… larger ears means better sound processing right?  Not really.  In fact, as we age, our hearing ability actually decreases.  

Sad but true.  

But there is one aspect of our hearing that should improve as we get older… hearing from God.  Why?  Because if we’re doing it right when we’re young… we should be getting to know Him more and more!  Spending time in His word… hearing messages in His church… writing about Him in our journals… telling others about Him when the opportunity comes…  We should be growing closer to Him… and His voice should be getting louder as the shadows grow longer.  2 Corinthians 4 tells us that although we are physically failing over time… we are actually being “renewed day by day” by God.  Want to know what God sounds like?  Spend time with Him.  Pray.  Ask Him to tell you and teach you what you need to know.  And as the years pass… your ability to hear physically may fade… but your capacity to hear from the One that matters will sharpen. 

Thinking It Through

Winston Churchill once said, "Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen."

Have you ever thought about how much time we spend listening?   Whether it be in a business meeting, a relationship, or even with God?  There are many people today that hear every word... quickly respond... and then have to apologize and repair damage because they didn’t think through the possible consequences of their answer.  Active listening is something we have to choose to do...but did you know it something God wants us to do as well?  In the book of James, Chapter 1 and verse 19 it says this:  

“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,”

Proverbs 18:13 puts it another more direct way...

“Spouting off before listening to the facts

    is both shameful and foolish.”

It’s much better to spend your time thinking through an answer than mending a fence or repairing relationship damage.  Sometimes you only have one chance to choose the right response in a situation... Be courageous!  Choose to think it through first and answer second... you’ll always be glad you did.  Remember,  two people talking just create noise... one person talking while the other listens creates deeper understanding and connection.  

Listen

Grayson Clamp was born deaf.  He never heard a sound in his life until June of 2013 when he became the first child in the United States to receive an auditory brain stem implant.  The device allows his brain to process sound the way a hearing person’s would.   The first thing he heard?  His father sitting over his bedside saying  “Daddy loves you.  Daddy loves you.”

Today as you listen to this devotional... maybe you need to hear the same thing.  Your Heavenly Father loves you.  He does.  He is passionate about you.  He steps in for you... protects you... provides for you... reaches out for you... and listens to you when you talk to Him.  He never moves from your side and always has His loving arm around you when you get scared.  

Don’t allow the world to cover your ears.  Some people will discourage you and convince you that you are alone.  They will make you feel unloved and remind you that you have made mistakes.  They’ll try to distract you from God’s gentle whispers with silent betrayal and painful criticism.  Don’t let them.  Take some time today... close your eyes... and let God tell you again and again... 

You are mine.

I’m right here.

Daddy loves you. 

Still

“Be still, and know that I am God!”  Psalm 46:10a

There may be no greater killer of happiness that stress.  Busyness and fatigue lead to discouraging thoughts and eventually affect your health in adverse ways...

But this is unavoidable, right?  Stress is just built into everyday life...isn’t it?

Is there any hope for peace?  Is a stress-controlled life possible?

Take some time during your week to pray... meditate on scripture... take a deep breath... get alone... 

Even Jesus did this.  He knew the value of getting away and regrouping.   I can already hear you screaming at your iPad... “Pastor.. my day is WAY too hectic for meditation or solitude”  

Then I would say that your day is way too busy.  

I have found in my 20+ years of ministry that people do what they want to do.  If they think it’s valuable enough, they’ll make the time no matter what they have to adjust.  You must first value “being still” before you’ll make it part of your day.  Trust me... once you start, you’ll wonder what took you so long.   Remember, as I’ve said before in my teachings, life is rhythmic.  There are notes and rests... and if you only play all fast notes... the music of life becomes just noise.  Rests are as important in beautiful melodies as tones... play both.  

Take some time today to “be still” and listen for God... you’ll hear things from Him that only patient and expectant silence will allow.  

Listening

“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.”  Ephesians 6:4

Michael Jordan is one of the most beloved sports figures of the modern era.  Many consider him the greatest basketball player to ever play the game. What many don’t know is that before each game, he’d scan the stands in search of his dad.  When asked why, Michael said,  “When he’s there, I know I have at least one fan.”  It didn’t matter if his son scored 50 points... or fouled out early... James Jordan cheered for his son.  

Our children need us in the stands.  They need to know that there is always going to be at least one person that supports them...even when they make a mistake.  The Bible tells us in Ephesians 6 that we are to encourage our children...not constantly ridicule them.  Of course, occasional discipline is necessary...but just knowing that you support them unconditionally will help them have confidence and succeed.  The world may try to boo your child... cheer louder.  They’ll be listening for it.  

Ears

According to Prevention magazine, our ears continue to grow throughout the course of our lifetime.  When we are very young, they are proportional to our body size.  After age 10, the growth slows down but continues steadily until we die.  So using this logic, we should have better hearing as we get older… larger ears means better sound processing right?  Not really.  In fact, as we age, our hearing ability actually decreases.  

Sad but true.  

But there is one aspect of our hearing that should improve as we get older… hearing from God.  Why?  Because if we’re doing it right when we’re young… we should be getting to know Him more and more!  Spending time in His word… hearing messages in His church… writing about Him in our journals… telling others about Him when the opportunity comes…  We should be growing closer to Him… and His voice should be getting louder as the shadows grow longer.  2 Corinthians 4 tells us that although we are physically failing over time… we are actually being “renewed day by day” by God.  Want to know what God sounds like?  Spend time with Him.  Pray.  Ask Him to tell you and teach you what you need to know.  And as the years pass… your ability to hear physically may fade… but your capacity to hear from the One that matters will sharpen.