Thought For Today: “Take Time To Truly Listen”
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To understand what a person is truly saying, we need to listen to what their spirit is saying.
Whatever a person’s intentions; the reality is what comes out of their mouths. Whatever is in a person’s spirit is revealed in what they say.
Jesus said, “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34) So, as soon as the words are spoken, the spirit is revealed.
If a person is dealing with pride, then the spirit of pride will come out in their speech. If they are envious, then the spirit of jealousy will come out of their mouth. If a person is holding onto resentment and bitterness, then the spirit of unforgiveness is what will be heard.
Whatever a person is dealing with, whatever they are holding within, it will come out in what they say.
Therefore, Apostle James says, “Be quick to listen and slow to speak.” (James 1:19)
Only when listen to the spirit behind the words is when we’ll understand where others are really coming from.
You know this, my beloved brothers and sisters. Now everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger; James 1:19 (NASB)
Dennis Lee is Senior Pastor at Living Waters Fellowship, Mesquite, Nevada. He presently has two books, “From Here to There: A Journey to Spiritual Transformation,” and “Wells of Living Waters,” He also writes a religious column for a local newspaper entitled, “Rediscover the Bible for Life,” along with daily devotionals and thoughts that he posts on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Living Waters Fellowship’s Website
Photo by Ben White on Unsplash
This is so true. Another thing that is absolutely necessary is to pray for discernment prior to the conversation. Like it says in Jeremiah 17:10, “I, the Lord, search the heart,
I test the mind” Also in 1 Corinthians 2:11, “For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.” Yet it also tells us in verses 16, “For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.” Only when we are spiritually mature in our walk with Jesus and constantly in prayer and in His word will we effectively listen to the spirit behind a person’s words who are speaking and have that discernment from God that we need.
Thank you for your response and insight. Take care and God bless