The Superpower of Listening

By Kim Beckham, Retired Pastor of Central Baptist Church, Tyler, TX

Read James 1:19-21.

Someone once said that we have been given two ears and one mouth to remind us that we need to speak less and listen more. If only I could apply that simple principle to my life every day. If I could have one superpower, it would be the power to be a great listener. The power of active listening cannot be minimized. 

The power of active listening cannot be minimized. 

It’s amazing how many problems I can avoid in life if I make sure I’ve heard what someone is saying instead of assuming I know what they mean. I spend a great deal of time working on keeping my mouth shut and my ears open. 

Although I find it difficult to practice active listening while keeping my mouth shut, it is still easier than trying to slow down my anger.  In fact, as much as I hate to admit it, I am sometimes proud of my anger.  My rage seems to declare that I’m not a person to be trifled with. It can even be a point of family pride, as in, say, “possessing an Irish temper.”  

My attitude seems to be, “You don’t tug on Superman’s cape, you don’t spit in the wind, and you don’t mess with Kim.” (My apologies to the late great Jim Croce.) 

But in this passage, James is frustratingly clear when he says that human anger is a declaration that we are not living in God’s righteousness.  Thankfully, as he challenges us to put away the world’s wickedness, he also provides the path to change our lives. 

Again, it is the simple step of filling our minds and hearts with God’s Word. We always move in the direction of our currently dominant thoughts. God has so wired us that we think, then we do. If we want to change our doing, we must change our thinking, and the absolute best way to change our thinking is to fill our minds with Scriptural truth.  

The preachers of my youth always insisted that the way to spiritual maturity was to read your Bible and pray, preferably daily. This old-time wisdom remains timeless in its efficiency today.

We always move in the direction of our currently dominant thoughts.

Reflective Questions:

1. Do you naturally listen more or talk more? What are you doing to discipline yourself to listen more and speak less? 
2. Why do you think so many people are living “on edge” in today’s world? Are you secretly proud of your anger?
3. Are you following a systemic plan of Bible reading, Bible study, and Bible memorization? There is power in writing your plan. Write down a plan for the next week for when you will read your Bible, where you will read your Bible, and how you will work toward memorizing Scripture. 

Memory Verse:

So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath. James 1:19

Prayer:

Dear Lord, thank you for giving me two ears and one mouth. Help me to listen twice as much as I talk. I know that listening is a characteristic of a good friend and a maturing believer. Help me to be a good listener. Help me to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. 

Related Scriptures:

Proverbs 17:27; Proverbs 21:23; Proverbs 10:19; Ephesians 4:26; II Timothy 2:24-25; Ephesians 4:22; I Peter 2:11; John 6:63; Psalm 25:9