DCLM Higher Everyday 6 January 2024 — Good Listening Skills
Topic: Good Listening Skills
Text: James 1:19-22
19Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
20For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
21Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
22But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
Key Verse: “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath” (James 1:19)
Message
Developing good listening skills while at home, in class, or Church requires a conscious effort. It helps you to achieve more in relation to whatever message is passed across. Bernard Baruch opined that, “Most successful people do more listening than talking.” God wanted undivided attention from Moses, that was why He called him up to the mountain before giving him the Ten Commandments (Exodus 19:24).
Good listening skills help you to pay attention and internalize the message being passed across. Cultivating good listening skills involve giving undivided attention by maintaining eye contact with the speaker, paying attention to the speaker’s body language, jotting down salient points and eventually asking questions after listening. Good listening skill would enhance better participation in the class or in the Church when a teacher is teaching. However, the God-factor makes the difference in all learning because even the best of all brains still makes mistakes without Christ. So while learning all the skills, make God your companion like Daniel in the Bible and you will surely go far.
Quote: Pay attention
Challenge: Be an active listener.
Prayer for today: My God, give me a listening ear, in Jesus’ name.
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
