13 To answer before listening—
that is folly and shame. Proverbs 18:13
Do you find yourself in a conversation where either you or the other person is not fully listening? In these types of conversations, do you find that people or you will answer something before listening to what is said? I know that there are times when I am interrupted in my work environment, and I don't get my full statement out before someone is cutting me off. It can be frustrating and off-putting to have your thoughts not feel heard or understood. There are also times in my own life where I am in such a hurry that I have cut someone off because I didn't either want to hear the whole story or felt like hearing the whole story was going to slow me down. Do you ever find yourself in conversations with God, not listening for what He has to say? Do you ask for something in prayer and just hop up and get going, and not calmly and reverently wait for a guiding word. Not all prayers are answered immediately, but certainly our own answer we give ourselves in our head should not come before God has a chance to respond. We need to stop ourselves from answering our own prayers and reverently wait to hear from God. It may not be in the minutes following our prayer, but it could be throughout the day and we certainly don't need to cut God off from answering something we asked for. Take a moment to remember how it feels to be cut off, and then listen throughout the day, the week, and every moment for the answers you seek.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
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