Devotions based on Jan Johnson’s book ,”Invitation to the Jesus Life

Today’s devotion is on being a good listener and I certainly have a long ways to go in being an attentive listener.

Do we often listen with half an ear and presume we already know what the other person has to say, waiting for our chance to speak?  And when we interrupt others when they are speaking are we really telling them that what they say doesn’t matter as much as what we have to say?

Jesus, on the other hand, focuses on us and listens to us, and loves us.  He looks for what is going on inside of us, and never tires of us.

.We aren’t born knowing how to listen to God. As we spend time connecting with Him through out the day, we learn to respond to His voice and follow His leading.

We can practice this more by reading scriptures, meditating, praying and paying attention to teaching.

From the experience of being listened to by Jesus we can learn to be present to others and listen deeply to their soul cries.

Listening is one of the most basic ways we submit to each other. It teaches us to die tour own desires and live to theirs.  Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, “He who can no longer listen to his brother will soon no longer listen to God either. “ As we listen to others it can be a greater service than speaking

As we live life in union with God, we will have empathy and genuinely care for others with a willingness to really listen to them.

You might want to try this practice as you talk to people. …try praying for them as they speak to you, to know what is really going on inside of them 

Devotions based on Jan Johnson’s book ,”Invitation to the Jesus Life

Today’s devotion is on being a good listener and I certainly have a long ways to go in being an attentive listener.

Do we often listen with half an ear and presume we already know what the other person has to say, waiting for our chance to speak?  And when we interrupt others when they are speaking are we really telling them that what they say doesn’t matter as much as what we have to say?

Jesus, on the other hand, focuses on us and listens to us, and loves us.  He looks for what is going on inside of us, and never tires of us.

.We aren’t born knowing how to listen to God. As we spend time connecting with Him through out the day, we learn to respond to His voice and follow His leading.

We can practice this more by reading scriptures, meditating, praying and paying attention to teaching.

From the experience of being listened to by Jesus we can learn to be present to others and listen deeply to their soul cries.

Listening is one of the most basic ways we submit to each other. It teaches us to die to our own desires and live to theirs.  Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, “He who can no longer listen to his brother will soon no longer listen to God either. “ As we listen to others it can be a greater service than speaking

As we live life in union with God, we will have empathy and genuinely care for others with a willingness to really listen to them.

You might want to try this practice as you talk to people. …try praying for them as they speak to you, to know what is really going on inside of them