On Hearing and Listening Well

We are all bad listeners.

Period.

Even the people who are paid to listen are proving to be the main offenders.

Case in point?

I call the Helpline of a major retailer, explaining that I need to change the email address they have on account for me as it is now defunct.

The lady I get through to is super helpful.

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ME: Let me give you my new address.

HER: No need, Madam. I'll send you an email now and you can just click on the link in it and do it yourself.

ME: How?

HER: By clicking on the link.

ME: Via an email address that no longer exists?

BOTH OF US: (Loooooong silence)

HER: (short) Oh!

ME: So?

HER: I'll take your details now, Madam.

ME: Thank you!!!

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Time was I would have been fuming. But truth be told, I am sometimes no better.

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I always begin my private time with God thinking I'm going to be the picture of prayer perfection.

Invariably, the idea is to be still and in that unusual but welcome lack of activity, "tune in" to the Holy Sprit.

Ha! That plan so often goes to pot.

And very quickly.

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After about 5 minutes, I convince myself that not hearing anything means He must be waiting to hear from me. Whereupon I'm quite happy to chat away and proffer solutions to all my current issues.

In detail.

With plan Bs to boot!

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I can almost hear Him groaning, "What kind of child is this?"

Well, what can I say?!

One who knows that warts and all, I am loved. Treasured, even.

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And on those days when I do manage to come to the end of myself and truly meet with Him, as I listen, the sound of the silence is love.

😎

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#ElShama-TheGodWhoHearsMe

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📖 My dearest brothers and sisters, take this to heart: Be quick to listen, but slow to speak.

James (Jacob) 1:19 TPT (YouVersion)

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