HOW TO ACTUALLY LISTEN WITH YOUR HEART WIDE OPEN
In every relationship of our life, one of the key elements is learning to listen with a heart wide open. This is true whether it is a mother listening to her child, a spouse listening to their spouse, a child to their parent, friends, or even coworkers. We were created with a need for sharing, for love, and the need to belong. Yet, sometimes our own needs are the very block that stands in the way of our relationships. We come into every relationship with baggage, scars, fears, and pains which alter our perceptions. Unfortunately this effects even how we hear others. Sometimes we put up walls and barriers to hold everyone else at a safe distance because we just don’t want to feel pain anymore. “If I let you too close, then I will need to feel your heartaches along with mine. That may be more than I can handle. Or you may just break my heart as well.”
At other times the barrier to listening comes from a need to feel important or an overwhelming sense of pride. Usually that is not a healthy self-confidence; but, rather a need to be proven. Both barriers stand in the way also in our relationship to God at times. There are times that we cannot hear His words of hope, joy and love; because, we are either focused on our pain or on proving ourselves to Him. We are afraid sometimes that if we listen with our hearts wide open He may ask us to let go of something or someone we love. Silly perhaps; but, we come to most relationships (even with our heavenly Father) with a lot to say and less desire to listen.
THE PHARISEES HEARD BUT DID NOT LISTEN
John chapter 8 is a discourse between Jesus and the Pharisees. In it, Jesus tells them of hope, joy, and the truth that He came to be the sacrifice once and for ever. He began with saying, “I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life” (John 8:12 AMP). Instead of listening with open minds and hearts, they only wanted to find fault and reason to manipulate His every word. They had arrived with an agenda to wipe out this “teacher” who had turned their ritualistic importance upside down. Their power and pride in question. Read the discourse and you will clearly see, they heard the words of what Jesus was saying; but did not hear the truth of what He was saying. Truly, they were not listening with open hearts and minds.
7 KEYS LISTENING TO WITH AN OPEN HEART
1. Recognize your own barriers to listening. This may take a lot of self-reflection; but, is very important to recognize your scars, your baggage, and your fears. Once you realize what they are—take them to God in prayer. Before a wound can be healed, we must know the wound exists so that it can be opened.
2. Be willing to be vulnerable. Relationships and being vulnerable means that you may have your heart broken or bleed a little; but, it also means that you have opened yourself up to feeling love, joy, and hope as well.
3. Forgetting the past means a genuine heart of forgiveness. Sometimes, that is not easy until we focus on how much we have also been forgiven for.
4. In this world of texting, email, and short notes; be careful not to read too much emotion into the words
5. Take time to reflect upon any conversations that have occurred for that day; particularly, those that seemed to go badly. This way you actively learn to listen better next time.
6. Be quick to apologize when you recognize that you really did not hear what was being said.
7. Take the time to meditate on God’s word, lay all the scars and burdens at His feet. Then be still and listen. Stillness opens our hearts to hear God’s words of love that can heal all the other relationships that we may have broken.
Fools find no pleasure in understanding
but delight in airing their own opinions. (Proverbs 18:2 NIV)
As we learn to listen with our hearts wide open, we will find springs of love and joy within our own hearts.
The song I chose for you today is; Be Still, my soul
The artist that drew the picture “A Broken and Contrite Heart” featured on my header and who designed my logo is Ronald Barba. Feel free to email me at Artedabarba@gmail.com or purchase his art at http://fineartamerica.com/art/all/ronald+barba/all
New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Amplified Bible (AMP)Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631. All rights reserved.
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