“The Power of Listening”
Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips. Psalm 141:3 (NKJV).
It is a natural human need to communicate, but more importantly, to have someone listen to us. But do we truly listen when someone is talking to us? Many times it seems that we enjoy talking, but have a hard time truly listening to others. It is a skill that requires much practise, because there is a big difference between hearing someone, and listening to someone. When we develop the skill of listening, it can become a powerful tool in our relationships. It will, of course, require us to stand still long enough, to let the other person finish what they are saying without interrupting them in the process, as well as keeping an open mind, in order to show that we are interested in what they are saying, we are actively listening as they speak, in order to show that we really care about what they have got to say. That’s why the Psalmist said: “Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth… (Psalm 141:3), because, once a word is said, it cannot be taken back.
When we are listening to others, there are a few things we must do, in order to truly listen. James says: “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;” (James1:19). Hear-Listen-Speak. We should try and make eye contact, show interest in the other person, (watch our body language), and when appropriate, ask questions that relate. When we are really listening we can learn so much more about the other person, and about ourselves. It is not easy listening to someone until at the end of their conversation, especially if it is something we are not interested in, or we don’t like what they are saying. However, when you let them finish, you can often get a better understanding of the issue or the concern the other person has. Afterwards, we can correct then wisely with love if necessary. Remember communication is a two-way process, were a message is given and received. Quite often, we want to be the talker, but we also need to be ready to listen to the response to what we have said. In turn, the other person or persons may not want to hear what we have to say, but they may be more likely to listen to us because we have taken time to listen to them.
Listening is a very valuable and powerful talent in our lives, that we all need to work on constantly because it can help us in so many ways. On our jobs, marriages and in our families, it can strengthen our relationships.
I am guilty in so many ways for not taking the time for not listening to end of what a person has to say. Therefore, let us each determine to be better listeners, and remember the words of Jesus: “He who has ears to hear, let him hear! (Matthew 11:15)