{"id":21966,"date":"2017-12-15T00:05:30","date_gmt":"2017-12-15T08:05:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/?p=21966"},"modified":"2017-12-08T15:57:59","modified_gmt":"2017-12-08T23:57:59","slug":"december-15-2017","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/2017\/12\/15\/december-15-2017\/","title":{"rendered":"December 15, 2017"},"content":{"rendered":"
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“And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.”<\/em> Isaiah 30:21<\/p>\n

Quick To Listen<\/strong><\/h2>\n

I have been continuing to read in James. James\u00a01:19\u00a0has captured my attention.\u00a0“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this:\u00a0Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.”<\/em><\/p>\n

We read that verse and think immediately of our friendships and relationships.\u00a0It’s great advice\u2014well worth heeding!\u00a0If we listen carefully to what people say, and pause before responding, we can often save ourselves a lot of trouble!<\/p>\n

But as I’ve been reading this passage, some different thoughts came to me.\u00a0I thought of my conversations with the Lord!\u00a0I’m usually pouring out my heart to Him\u2014my thoughts, my needs, my cries for help, my prayer requests.\u00a0He listens very patiently to me!\u00a0And He answers me.<\/p>\n

But I felt a nudge of the Spirit that I need to listen more in my conversations with God. I do listen, don’t get me wrong\u2014but I often have such a full heart that I talk a lot in my time with Him! I felt Him saying that He has more things to say to me, and I need to listen.<\/p>\n

Quieting my heart from the tumult of all that is going on is challenging.\u00a0I’m usually very anxious to share my heart.\u00a0But “being quick to listen” changes the whole equation.\u00a0If I listen more, God may alleviate the tumult before I even share it with Him.<\/p>\n

God loves to speak to us, His children.\u00a0He speaks into our minds.\u00a0He speaks in that “still small voice” in our inner being.\u00a0He speaks through verses we read.\u00a0But we can miss what He wants to say if we’re in a hurry, or if we do all the talking and we don’t listen.<\/p>\n

Listening is an art, a skill.\u00a0And because it’s a skill, it’s something we can learn to do. After all, we have two ears and one mouth, so we should be able to listen more than we talk. But it requires practice.<\/p>\n

I’m going to adjust my quiet times with the Lord, and start listening more.\u00a0He has been so very faithful to teach me so many lessons on this long journey.\u00a0I can’t wait to hear what more He has to say.\u00a0Stay tuned, and I’ll share those lessons with you.\u00a0I’m sure He has much to say to you, too, as you listen to His voice.\u00a0Join me in “being quick to listen.”<\/p>\n

“Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known”<\/em> (Jeremiah 33:3).<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em>“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you”<\/em> (Psalm 32:8).<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em>\u201cLord, I could never have survived and navigated this unexpected journey I’ve been on if You hadn’t spoken into my heart so faithfully.\u00a0You have truly counseled me and helped me.\u00a0I’m looking forward to all that You still have to say. Amen.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

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