God values listening.
James 1:19 says, “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear [and] slow to speak.” At the heart of that wisdom is listening well. Effective listening deepens a relationship by:
• Intimately connecting the person listening with the person talking, and vice versa.
• Creating safety within which partners can be vulnerable without fear of judgment, correction, or rejection.
• Fostering the mutual respect necessary for long-term stability.
• De-escalating conflict.
The problem is many of us spend a lot of time sharing our thoughts, our opinions, our stories – that is, talking or waiting for our turn to speak instead of truly hearing one another. We are more distracted than ever, bombarded by stimulation from every direction all day. As a result, we’re losing ourability to be fully present and attentive to each other.
How do we learn to stop and really listen?
Becky Harling is joining me on Focus on the Family with Jim Daly to offer practical healthy habits for intentional, proactive listening. She’ll help you strengthen your ability to empathize with others and to listen more deeply through what she calls the “Five Bs of Availability”:
• Being reliable.
• Being intentional.
• Being prepared.
• Being flexible.
• Being alert to divine appointments.
Becky says, “Effective listening can change the entire nature of a person’s life. Once a person feels understood, valued, and connected, they have hope.”