here but not hearing.

Why is it so hard to listen sometimes??

I should have know I wasn't a very good listener by the amount of repeating my parents had to do as I was growing up.

I'd like to think I struggle with listening because I have a brilliant mind God gave me and it is always preoccupied with profound thoughts.

Not often the case.

And quite honestly it is almost scary how clearly the exhortation to "hear" is found in Scripture. It is one of the most repeated exhortations in Scripture.

In fact, Solomon, the wisest man to live on this earth other than Jesus Christ Himself, wrote more on the subject of seeking out wisdom through listening to wise counsel than any other writer in history!

I've read that we think and hear about 1,000 words per minute and the average speaking speed is only 125 words per minute.
Those statistics beg the question..."What in the world do we do with the rest of that "margin" time in our minds?"

For all of us "talkers" it's good to remember that God gave us two ears and one mouth for a reason:)

Top Reasons We Fail to Listen:

* We often hear only what we want to hear.

* We pridefully perceive the topic or information unimportant.

* We like to jump to conclusions and shortcuts.

* We don't like that people's thinking is often a radical departure from our perspective on things.

* We are only waiting for our turn to talk and formulating our argument. WOW...THAT IS A BIG ONE!

A few lessons God is graciously teaching me about listening:

Listening is sign of humility.
"Everyone you meet is superior in someway." -Henry Thoreau
Pretty good reason to listen to them.
Many times my own arrogance can open my mouth while simultaneously closing my ears.
It's hard to listen without humility.

Listening is a form of honor.
"Honor is celebrating who a person is without stumbling over who they are not." Bill Johnson

Hearing from God can often be a "team sport".
"None of us are as smart as all of us."
"We should not only use all the brains we have- but all that we can borrow." Pres. Woodrow Wilson I can often discern the voice of Christ as I lean further into the body of Christ.

I definitely don't recommend listening to EVERY voice around you...
That definitely got King Rehoboam (I Kings 12:6-11) in trouble. I guess he should have listened to the advice of his wise father, Solomon:)

"I don't listen to the warning of excess from those who are satisfied lack." Bill Johnson

I am far from the "poster child" for listening...but by the Grace of God I am making progress and so can you.

Be "here" AND hearing today.
join the conversation with your comment:

Why do you struggle to listen?
What wake up call have you had in this area lately?