Day 20 - LIFE1: Quick to listen

Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. 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.

But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.

James 1:19-25 (NLT)

As you would expect, a great deal of our thinking, speaking, and subsequently acting is about LIFE. As you read this now remind yourself that your life here on earth is unique in many ways but also that word and experience spelt LIFE has an incredibly wide focus. It also has an amazing content!

L is for LIFE and L is for listening. When we open up ourselves to discuss the full life that God has in mind for each one of us listening is a sometimes forgotten aspect!

Every parent hopes that their offspring will begin listening and responding to what they say! Each teacher or tutor also seeks to impress and seek the right way forward for their pupils. In the working world, colleagues and other members of staff are available for the guidance we can all need. Even our Sat Nav’s need our full attention as we listen to their careful directions if we are not to get lost on our journeys.

In Isaiah 49:3 God said, “You are my servant in whom I will display my splendour.” Listening is stage one of life.

Prayer by Rachel Wojo:

Gracious God,

So often I come to you with lists and needs.

Like a demanding infant I ask rather listen.

To my next job, I move on with my day

Completely missing what you might have to say.

The noise of the world clogs my ears

And clouds my mind with fog and fears.

I need you to clear my senses, O Lord!

Give me a heart in tune with your Word.

May I be ever eager to hear your voice;

May listening continually be my choice.

Amen.

Ray Avent