Cultivating Listening Abilities

 

Cultivating Listening Abilities

 

Romans 12:15, Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.

The Lord gave us precisely what we needed to build his churches and kingdom in ways that deeply pleases him. To embrace this idea of listening from God’s perspective, we must consider what this passage entails.

·  Rejoicing with those who “rejoice” allows us to share in their joys…to celebrate with them…reveling in their blessings while keeping them at the center of focus. Break out the confetti!

·  Weeping with those who “weep”, enables us to show empathy and compassion for another’s very real challenges and circumstances. We may find it difficult to relate at times, but we all are well acquainted with pain and grief…that sense of helplessness, regret, lose…. Have another tissue, please.

·  Fostering a sense of belonging and community by being present in both favorable and miserable instants are a worthwhile aim we can afford others as a function of identification, recognition, and association. The Lord can use such instances to knit our hearts with another group or individuals through these deeply meaningful experiences.

·  Overcoming self-centered thoughts, motives, and behaviors choosing empathy, harmony, compassion, and understanding instead is now more likely. All envying, greed, coveting, selfishness, and jealousy are smothered from the outset.

It is always valuable to us as disciples to know what our Lord would do and to investigate the Word with these thoughts in mind. The Lord Jesus certainly exemplified good listening and empathy in several ways that help and inform this kind of activity.

·  Our Lord’s Compassion on Many People (Matthew 9:36): Jesus is moved with real compassion therefore he helped the crowd because they were stressed and deserted, much like sheep without a shepherd would be. Our Lord shows the kind of compassion that involves itself in another’s very real needs.

·  His Weeping with Mary Even though He would perform Lazarus’ Resurrection (John 11:35): Jesus weeps with Mary and Martha over the death of Lazarus, showing that empathy involves entering another's sorrow and pain with them. Our Lord was fully cognizant of the miracle He would perform, yet He demonstrated that empathy is always relevant regardless of the situation.

·  Jesus’ Controversial Story of the ‘Good’ Samaritan (Luke 10:33–34): A Samaritan sees a beaten man, feels deep compassion, and acts to take care of him, embodying active compassion and empathy disregarding gross mischaracterizations, unfounded prejudices, embedded misconceptions and deeply seated cultural biases.

The Lord Jesus helps us in tremendous ways with his example and teachings. We all could use an upgrade in the areas of listening, empathy and compassion! Yes, to be selfless like this will require the power of the Holy Ghost in our lives!

So, then the ability to listen well is a skill each of us can learn and perfect at home, church, and at work. Certainly, we need the power of God to live like this…to value people in this way. The best place to start is to personally acknowledge this as an area of growth. Who doesn't want to be a better listener, a well-rounded team player, give meaningful feedback, deliver accurate non-verbal communication, be profoundly understood, and thoroughly motivate others to trust us? This is the potential impact of listening well!

Like yourselves, I know compassion is the key to paying attention to others in a healthy manner. If someone is conveying joy, then I want to be able to rejoice and celebrate with them. Perhaps my counterpart is conveying fear then I want reservations and timidity to register through my body language. Eventually, I’ll share with them how faith helps us overcome fears. Whatever energy they are expressing I want to reflect that same vigor, strength, fire, intensity, and animation from a place of deep understanding and helpful facilitation. This is God’s command to us and our obedience helps us build community and partnerships in meaningful ways. I know we all have jobs to do, and I subscribe to the notion that we are individuals, but that does not stop us from being very human also. It is a component of Christlikeness to develop this ability. To actively engage with the emotions of others. To be there to assist others with their struggles. To spring into action with compassion rather than mere judgment fostering community through understanding. Beloved, we must cultivate the ability to listen well. 

Many passages echo this same or similar ideas like the following verses: Ephesians 3:19; Ephesians 4:32; 1 Peter 3:8; Galatians 6:2; Colossians 3:12; Hebrews 4:15.

These verses convey various practices of active listening to grasp others' feelings more completely. Such practices place us in a position to offer support and encouragement during difficult times. We become usable servants of the Lord in such cases. Certainly, mastering these abilities helps us cultivate a spirit of unity and love within our relationships at home, church, and work.