The Good Listener - Pt 6

The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Come, behold the works of the LORD, how he has brought desolations on the earth. He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire. Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. (Psalm 46:6-11 ESV). Today is the last of our principles to be a good listener. Good listening reflects our relationship with God. Our inability to listen well to others may be symptomatic of our inability to “be still and hear the Lord.” I find it true that when we can no longer listen to others, we will soon be unable to listen to God either. We may be speaking to God, but the words are meaningless. Piper calls this nothing but “prattle in the presence of God." This is the beginning of the decline in our growth in Christ. Anyone who thinks that his time is too valuable to spend keeping quiet will eventually have no time for God and his brother, but only for himself and for his own pursuits. Good listening is a great means of grace in the dynamic of true Christian fellowship. Not only is it a channel through which God continues to pour his grace into our lives, but it’s also his way of using us as his means of grace in the lives of others. It may be one of the hardest things we learn to do, but we will find it worth every ounce of effort. Edward H. Richards wrote a little poem: The wise old owl lived in an oak; The more he saw the less he spoke; The less he spoke the more he heard: Why can't we all be like that bird? The answer to his poetic question is simple. When we find ourselves solidly centered in our relationship with our heavenly Father we can become great listeners. My challenge to each of is to begin to practice the principles of good listening. I will transform your relationships with others!