{"id":1239,"date":"2026-07-02T00:00:20","date_gmt":"2026-07-02T05:00:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/reconciledworld.org\/flourish\/?p=1239"},"modified":"2026-08-02T21:31:25","modified_gmt":"2026-08-03T02:31:25","slug":"serving-others-through-good-listening","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/reconciledworld.org\/flourish\/serving-others-through-good-listening\/","title":{"rendered":"Serving Others Through Good Listening"},"content":{"rendered":"
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God Knows. But He Listens.
\n<\/strong>God knows every thought we have.
\nHe knows every word before it is spoken.<\/p>\n

God does not need our advice or information. He could act without our prayers.
\nBut He listens.<\/p>\n

\n

God has surely listened and has heard my prayer. (Psalm 66:19)<\/p>\n

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. (1 John 5:14)<\/p>\n

The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their prayer. (1 Peter 3:12)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

When the blind beggar Bartimaeus approached Jesus, people told him to be quiet.
\nBut Jesus stopped.
\nJesus already knew the man was blind.
\nHe already knew what the man needed.
\nBut He asked him, \u201cWhat do you want me to do for you?\u201d (Mark 10:51).<\/p>\n

Jesus knew the answer. But He listened.<\/p>\n

God is High Above. But He Listens.<\/strong>
\nGod is far beyond human greatness or understanding. He could easily decide He is too great to come near, too important to care about our pain and struggles.<\/p>\n

\n

Lord, what are human beings that you care for them,
\nmere mortals that you think of them?
\nThey are like a breath;
\ntheir days are like a fleeting shadow. (Psalm 144:3-4)<\/p>\n

Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket;
\nthey are regarded as dust on the scales. (Isaiah 40:15,17)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

God is high above, but He listens to His children.
\nJesus showed this when He spoke to the Samaritan woman at the well. Many Jews believed Samaritans were lower than them. Rabbis often refused to speak with women in public. But Jesus sat down with her. He listened to her story (John 4:1-26).<\/p>\n

We Are Neither.<\/strong>
\nWe are not all-knowing like God.
\nWe are not above other people.<\/p>\n

But do we listen?<\/strong>
\nLet us follow the example of our God and listen carefully to the people around us – the church member who annoys us, the child telling a silly story, the garbage worker or cleaner others ignore, or anyone else God puts in our path.<\/p>\n

Here are some tips on how to do it well:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. View Listening as Ministry and Service<\/strong>
    \nWe often rush through listening to get to \u2018more important\u2019 ministry tasks. But listening is one of the best ways to serve others. It changes hearts and lives.<\/li>\n
  2. Slow Down and Prioritize<\/strong>
    \nBusyness can easily keep us from the most important task: caring for the person Jesus puts in our path each day.<\/li>\n
  3. Put aside assumptions<\/strong>
    \nWe often enter conversations assuming we know best. Before the person is done explaining, we already think we have the solution. Instead, listen with humility.<\/li>\n
  4. Give full attention<\/strong>
    \nPut away distractions. Look at the person. Turn your body toward them.<\/li>\n
  5. Don\u2019t interrupt and ask simple questions<\/strong>
    \nIt\u2019s tempting to respond with an opinion or tell our own story. Instead, ask:
    \n– Can you tell me more?
    \n– How did that make you feel?
    \n– What happened next?<\/li>\n
  6. Repeat what you heard<\/strong>
    \nTo avoid misunderstanding, make sure you heard correctly by repeating back – \u201cThis is what I hear you saying\u2026\u201d And then ask, \u201cAm I missing anything?\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Let\u2019s put this into practice. The next time you have a meeting, pay attention to what percentage of the time you speak versus listen. Notice how many questions you asked. Then aim to do better in the next meeting.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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