Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
June 12, 2024
Psalm 69:13-18
13 But me? My prayer reaches you, LORD, at just the right time. God, in your great and faithful love, answer me with your certain salvation! 14 Save me from the mud! Don’t let me drown! Let me be saved from those who hate me and from these watery depths! 15 Don’t let me be swept away by the floodwaters! Don’t let the abyss swallow me up! Don’t let the pit close its mouth over me! 16 Answer me, LORD, for your faithful love is good! Turn to me in your great compassion! 17 Don’t hide your face from me, your servant, because I’m in deep trouble. Answer me quickly! 18 Come close to me! Redeem me! Save me because of my enemies!
Good Morning! God listens to his children!
Do you consider yourself a good listener? Most of us want to be there to listen when others need to talk, but it is difficult for us. Some conversations require two-way communication, a give-and-take, where the topic meanders according to the words shared. A good conversation of this type is like a tennis volley during which both participants share equally.
When one begins to dominate the conversation, the rhythm of the volley is broken.
There is a difference between being a good conversationalist and a good listener. Being a good listener means checking our desire to add comments and interject at the door. We listen and respond in non-verbal ways to what the other is sharing. We must intentionally focus on them.
The hardest part of being a good listener is not jumping in during moments of awkward silence and being patient with the speaker’s ramblings. Another challenge is not allowing our thoughts to go off on their own tangent when the one speaking strikes a common chord with our own experiences.
Listening is a purposeful action that requires discipline. God blesses those he calls to be listeners as he blessed Simeon, the priest who blessed the baby Jesus. Open your ears and heart to listen to the stories of God’s children.
Listening God, Thank you for this beautiful gift of life. We are too quick to talk when we should be listening. Thank you for giving us two ears so we might hear your call. We thank you! In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: When we listen to someone, we show them God’s love.
Listen and be blessed! Pastor Liz
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