“ … Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.”
James 1:19
Be Quick to Listen
For 38+ years, about every four to five months, I have experienced frequent garbled speech due to respiratory muscle weakness from myasthenia. This speech impairment can last weeks, even after receiving high-dose IV steroid treatments. During these exacerbations, when I am fully unable to speak clearly, I have learned a lot about both speaking and listening. I must choose my words very carefully, due to limited airflow which prevents me from speaking freely. During these times, my speaking ability is very limited, so I must decide what is most important to say whenever I speak, and keep it brief. Yes, it is difficult. But there are 3 silver linings, things that I have learned: 1) Listening is more important than speaking 2) I must choose my words carefully 3) It is just temporary.
“Encourage one another and build one another up…”
I Thessalonians 5:10
“Let us then pursue what leads to peace and to building up one another.”
Romans 14:19
The words we say have the power to build up or tear down; and the decision as to which it is, is up to each of us to choose whenever we speak. We need to learn to listen to others--and to ourselves. What we say—and how we say it to others. But most of all, we need to pray/talk to, and listen to God. He knows us best, our situations, and even our thoughts far better than we do. He speaks to all of us in a way we can understand, but do we really listen?
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true , whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”
Philippians 4:8
“In the same way the tongue is a small member and yet has great pretensions. Consider how small a fire can set a huge forest ablaze.”
James 3:5
Some experience God speaking to them through serendipity and other people, or praying and reading scripture. Some through nature. Yet, others experience a gut feeling, ‘a knowing,’ or, less often, some hear his still small voice providing direction, discernment, and encouragement. Regardless of how we experience God, He is our Creator, Our Savior, and Lover of our Souls. As believing Christians, our connection with Jesus is life-giving, and ever-present, as we strive to make Him and His ways the center, the gold standard, of our lives. Then we can say with confidence: ‘Speak Lord, I’m Listening.’
“We belong to God, and anyone who knows God listens to us, while anyone who does not belong to God refuses to hear us. This is how we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of deceit.”
I John 4:5-6
“The Lord said to [Moses]: Who gives one person speech? Who makes another mute or deaf, seeing or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go, I will assist you in speaking and teach you what you are to say. But he said, “If you please, my Lord, send someone else!”
Exodus 4:11-13
“You will speak to him and put the words in his mouth. I will assist both you and him in speaking and teach you both what you are to do.”
Exodus 4:15
“…Do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say.” Matthew 10:19-20
“What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light; what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.” Matthew 10: 27
There are many Bible passages that instruct us on how to communicate with others and guard our own speech. Could it be that we are reminded of the importance of listening to what we ourselves say aloud through our own lips? Perhaps we need to remember that since we are believing Christians, ambassadors for Christ, that others, especially those who are not Christian, may judge both us and God, by what we say and do…
“If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless.”
James 1:26-27
“No foul language should come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for needed edification, that it may impart grace to those who hear.”
Ephesians 4:29
Be Slow to Speak
Surely, we all have said things that we regret, that are better left unsaid. We often know when that happens, because our own words may echo in our minds and hearts, stirring up anger towards others, or even guilt. Many times what we say is true , but it is not in keeping with how scripture advises us to speak. As a general rule of thumb, it is always best to only say about others what we would say to or in front of them. Yet, the temptation to raise our voices in anger during a confrontation, teardown others, or even gossip while venting, may be just too great to prevent us from ‘doing the right thing.’ This can be remedied by doing just 3 things:
- ‘Practice the pause’—think before you speak to choose your words wisely.
2. Take a deep breath, or even count to five before speaking.
3. Run what you want to say through the following ‘filter’ before speaking with or about someone else. Not sure who authored these questions, but it is a wonderful faith-filled way to filter, communicate & stay on track in keeping with Bible teaching:
Is it true ?
Is it necessary?
Is it kind?
Is it helpful?
Does it lift up others or tear them down?
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue…”
Proverbs 18:21
“We belong to God, and anyone who knows God listens to us, while anyone who does not belong to God refuses to hear us. This is how we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of deceit.”
I John 4:5-6
“Let us then pursue what leads to peace and to building up one another.”
Romans 14:19
Speak Lord, I'm Listening!
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© Copyright 2021 | Adele M. Gill
~ About the Author ~
Adele M. Gill is a certified Chaplain, and a graduate of the St. James College Seminary. She is a recipient of the 2021 Firebird Book Award for her new life-changing self-help book, 'How to Go from Broken to Blest.’ This AWARD WINNING BOOK will lift up anyone who is weary, struggling and in need of hope. https://amzn.to/2ZWsiCb
