Be a better listener ∙
Anyone who belongs to God listens gladly to the words of God. But you don’t listen because you don’t belong to God. – John 8:47
John 8:42-46
Jesus told them, “If God were your Father, you would love me because I have come to you from God. I am not here on my own, but he sent me.
Why can’t you understand what I am saying? It’s because you can’t even hear me!
For you are the children of your father, the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
So, when I tell the truth, you just naturally don’t believe me!
Which of you can truthfully accuse me of sin?”
The Power of High-Quality Listening
Dr. Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic emphasizes the importance of listening in his article, stating, “High-quality listening is an underrated ability. How well and frequently you listen to others is a better predictor of your leadership potential than your actual intelligence or personality” (How to Become a Better Listener, Chamorro-Premuzic, fastcompany.com). Research shows that good listeners not only perform better at work but also cultivate more meaningful and fulfilling relationships. These individuals are viewed as trustworthy, curious, empathetic, and emotionally intelligent.
Why Is Good Listening So Rare?
Chamorro-Premuzic points out that contemporary culture often praises behaviors such as self-promotion, attention-seeking, and long-windedness, even when there is little substance or value to share. This societal tendency makes the art of listening a rare and underappreciated skill.
A Simple Formula for Better Listening
Is it possible to become a better listener? Chamorro-Premuzic offers a straightforward approach to becoming a better listener:
- Shut up.
- Listen.
- Repeat.
Although the concept may seem simple, mastering this formula demands both intentionality and consistent practice.
Four Keys to High-Quality Listening
Chamorro-Premuzic identifies four essential components of effective listening:
1. Focus: Give your undivided attention. This means removing distractions and being completely present in the moment.
2. Empathy: See the world from another person’s point of view. Empathy involves stepping outside your own ego to understand someone else’s experience. However, empathy must be combined with thoughtful kindness and compassion to be effective.
3. Self-Control: Manage your emotions and practice mindfulness to prevent impulsive interruptions. Simply put: don’t interrupt.
4. Inclusion: When it’s your turn to speak, include the perspectives and statements of others in the conversation. This shows you’ve truly listened and valued their input.
Listening in Our Relationship with God
If high-quality listening is vital for nurturing human relationships, how much more important is it for our connection with the Father? Scripture continuously encourages us to listen intentionally to His voice, drawing us into a deeper, more profound, transformative relationship.
Luke 14:35 asserts, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!”
Listening to God is a deeply intentional act, much like the way we engage with those around us. It demands our full attention and presence. To truly listen to God, we must cultivate focus, setting aside distractions and immersing ourselves in His instruction and guidance.
Empathy is just as important; we must approach our understanding of His Word with an open heart, striving to grasp the depth of His messages and how they connect with our own experiences.
Self-discipline is crucial. It involves taking a moment to think before we act, making sure our reactions align with His gentleness, kindness, and empathy rather than our personal biases or emotional impulses. This practice helps us stay grounded in our faith, enabling us to absorb His teachings and put them into practice effectively.
We are encouraged to integrate His Word, guidance, and perspective into our thoughts, decisions, and actions. It’s more than just hearing or understanding what God says; it’s about making His voice central to how we live and interact with the world around us.
Ultimately, listening to God is not merely about hearing His Word; it is about putting His Word into action. It calls us to embody His teachings in our day-to-day lives.
REFLECT & PRAY
Charles Stanley sagaciously observes, “Our culture tends to consider people ‘spiritual’ merely if they have an interest in spiritual things. That is not the biblical perspective. Only those who hear God’s voice and obey it are spiritual.”
Father, help me become a better listener, not only to those around me but, more importantly, to You and Your Word. Empower me to do more than just hear; guide me to act, becoming a doer rather than just an auditor.
INSIGHT
The Importance of Hearing and Recognizing God’s Voice
In a world filled with distractions and competing voices, it is essential to learn how to hear and recognize the Father’s voice. Many influences compete for our attention, making it crucial to discern His voice amid the noise. Developing this skill requires time, experience, and intentional effort.
The familiarity of a loved one’s voice serves as a powerful analogy. For example, even decades after a loved one has passed away, many can still recall their mother’s voice with clarity. The same is true for fathers, siblings, and other significant people in our lives. This deep recognition results from years of building relationships and fostering connections. Similarly, as children of the King, we are called to know and recognize the voice of our Heavenly Father.
Sometimes He speaks softly, only a whisper, as He did to Elijah, 1 Kings 19:12: “A still small voice.”
However, hearing His voice and understanding His Word is only the beginning.
Hearing and Doing: A Call to Action
Merely hearing God’s Word is not sufficient. As children of the King, we are called to act on what we hear. Zane Hodges explains, “James’s readers must never allow themselves to become mere auditors of the Word; instead, they must obey it. Here, of course, James trades on the fact that the word hear, in both Hebrew and Greek, can mean either mere sensory audition or it can also mean ‘to hear responsively,’ i.e., ‘to obey.’”
James 1:19: “Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.”
To be “swift to hear” goes beyond simply listening. At its core, it means being swift to obey. Hodges further emphasizes, “If the readers ever thought that mere attention to the Scriptures was enough, they were mistaken. With such a view, they would be deceiving themselves.”
The Danger of Being a Passive Hearer
Warren Wiersbe cautions against the common misconception that merely hearing a sermon or going to a Bible study automatically results in spiritual maturity. Wiersbe writes, “It is not enough to hear the Word; we must do it. Many people have the mistaken idea that hearing a good sermon or Bible study is what makes them grow and get God’s blessing. It is not the hearing but the doing that brings the blessing. Too many Christians mark their Bibles, but their Bibles never mark them! If you think you are spiritual because you hear the Word, then you are only kidding yourself.”
James 1:22-25: “Prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. If anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at the law of liberty and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this person will be blessed in what he does.”
The imagery James uses is striking. A person who hears the Word but does not act on it is like someone who glances in a mirror, only to forget their reflection immediately. This fleeting interaction with the truth leaves no lasting impact. In contrast, the one who looks intently at God’s perfect law and lives it out is transformed and blessed.
Consistency in Living Out God’s Word
Living out God’s principles requires both consistency and conviction. As Wiersbe points out, “The person who lives out God’s principles is consistent in their convictions.” We seriously damage our spiritual lives when we expose ourselves to the Bible but fail to act on what we read. It’s easy to misjudge our spiritual condition when we rationalize inaction or confuse knowledge with obedience.
True spiritual growth comes from aligning our actions with God’s Word. While hearing is an essential first step, it is our actions that bring about transformation and blessings. By becoming effective doers, we reflect the character of Christ and express our faith in a manner that honors Him.
Listening is more than a passive act; it is an active discipline that transforms our relationships with others and with the Father. By cultivating the skill of high-quality listening, we not only reflect Christ’s love but also deepen our spiritual walk.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯5-14-2
© Dr. H 2025
Dr H Reflections 