Daily devotion – a good listener
Pro 17:27 He who has knowledge spares his words, And a man of understanding is of a calm spirit.
Pro 17:28 Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive.
These verses are wonderful in their wisdom. As I grow older in years and in my walk with the Lord, I pray for me to be a better listener and to talk a lot less! If you have ever experienced being with a good listener, you have found their company to be rewarding and enjoyable. But on the flip side, when you are with someone who does not come up for air in their much talking, that is a whole other experience.
God is a great listener! But are you a great listener to God? How often are your prayers one sided with you doing all the talking. Yes, we are encouraged to share our hearts and needs to the Lord in our time with Him. But take some time this week in your praying to stop and listen, God desires to also speak to your heart. Words of comfort and grace, wisdom and direction.
It’s why we have two ears and one mouth. Could it be that we are to listen twice as much as we speak? When you become a good listener, God will lead you to the broken hearted, the lonely and the troubled, and He will give you the opportunity to listen to those who need a comforting ear.
Remember Job’s comforters did an amazing work in comforting Job, until they opened their mouths!
Jas 1:19 So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;