Quick To Listen

James 1:19-21 (NLT)

Understand this my brothers and sisters, you must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. 

Earlier on this year a dear friend called me out on my inability to listen, and to listen well. I have a tendency to interrupt people before they have finished talking, and not in a funny ‘I finish their sentence kinda way’ but an annoying interjection with my own story to tell. Somehow, somewhere in our friendship, I had decided to be the exact opposite of what James is telling us to do: I’d become slow to listen, and quick to speak. 

I’m deeply grateful that friend of mine called me out and called me to a higher way of friendship and relationship with others. We need friends to help us see what we ourselves cannot - to reveal that blind spot. This truth and realisation didn’t just impact and improve this one friendship; it had a wider effect on the other relationships in my life, as I was confronted with the changes I needed to make. 

1 Corinthians 12 tells us that ‘love is patient’. By definition patience is the ability to wait, or to continue doing something despite difficulties; to suffer without complaining or becoming annoyed. Patience is something God wants to partner with us to develop; something that the Holy Spirt produces in us and teaches us to demonstrate in our lives and dealings with others.

Patience is the tool we need to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger. 

Take some time to reflect on your past week. Ask God to highlight any moments, and conversations where you’ve fallen short of this. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you and grow this divine patience in you. 

Prayer – Lord forgive me for when I’m quick to speak, and patience escapes me. Would you partner with me and help me to show more of your divine patience?