LISTEN MORE

Date: 18/03/25

Christian Treasures

Daily Devotions

Topic: LISTEN MORE

Anchor Scripture:My dear brothers and sisters, pay attention to this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry. James 1:19 ESV

A woman asked her husband to solve a riddle. It was a song that goes like this:

"On my way to St. Ann (2x)

I saw a man with seven wives

All the wives with seven sacks

All the sacks with seven cats

All the cats with seven kittens

Kittens, cats, sacks, wives

How many are going to St. Ann?

How many are going to St. Ann?"

The husband quickly calculated a large number. "You’re wrong," the wife said happily. "You were hearing, but you weren’t listening. I am the only one going to St. Ann." The husband, now listening, asked how. The wife explained, "The man and everyone else I mentioned were going somewhere else. I only said I was on my way to St. Ann. So it was just me going there."

This is a big lesson about hearing and listening.

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines hearing as the ability to perceive sound. Listening means paying attention to sound, thinking about what you hear, and showing consideration.

WHY YOU SHOULD LISTEN MORE

This year, make it a habit to listen after you hear. Listening helps you think about what you’ve heard. It allows you to make informed decisions. We should think before we speak. Listening is a skill, and being a good listener helps you make sound judgments.

James 1:19 reminds us to think before judging others, so we can reflect on the right things. Hearing the right words is important. When you listen and meditate on what you’ve heard, you can come up with good ideas and solutions. Some people only value their own opinions.

You can hear signs of plenty, success, and good health. It’s important to seek guidance from God instead of rushing into decisions. Listen carefully for how God will guide you through His words and other ways He chooses to communicate.

LESSON: Hearing without listening is like seeing storm clouds but not preparing for rain. If it starts to rain and you haven’t collected your water containers, what will you do if the rain doesn’t come?

PRAYERS: Dear Lord, please help us to listen, hear, and make good judgments in all situations. In Jesus’ name, amen.