I’ve been thinking about how important it is to “listen up” as I try to listen well in my conversations. By listen up I mean – listen to God at the same time as I listen to someone else. Multi-task, so to speak.
I sometimes am compelled to listen because I think I can help. (How subtly it becomes about me. )The truth is, God is working in each person’s life long before I come on the scene. Instead of focusing on what I might say that would “fix” them, I should focus on what God is doing in them – without me.
If by some chance I am able to say something helpful, it’s because God is at work, not because I am so incredibly insightful. When I take the pressure off of myself to be helpful (fix the person) I can really listen rather than prepare to speak. At the same time I can listen for a nudge from God to say something, instead of working out the fix in my mind.
Sounds really good on a blog. Much harder to do in a conversation, oh great “fixer” that I am! I think God is probably a much better “fixer” than I am. And can discern much better what, if anything, needs to be fixed.
“And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” – 2 Corinthians 3:18
