The One Year Wisdom for Women Devotional: 365 Devotions through the Proverbs by Bryson Debbi

Author:Bryson, Debbi [Bryson, Debbi]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: RELIGION / Christian Life / Devotional, RELIGION / Christian Life / Women
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
Published: 2013-01-17T00:00:00+00:00

One Year Bible Reading

2 Kings 22:3–23:30; Acts 21:37–22:16; Psalm 1:1-6; Proverbs 18:11-12

July 4

Learning to Listen

To answer before listening, that is folly and shame.

PROVERBS 18:13 (NIV)

All right, this affirms what we should already know. We need to be better listeners. I am convinced that many of our problems are because we only half understand each other. We have not learned to talk things out and hear each other out. Honestly, I wish I were better at this. My parents didn’t really sit down to discuss serious issues with us when I was growing up. Still to this day, I feel I have much to learn.

Gary Smalley’s book The DNA of Relationships has an excellent chapter called “Emotional Communication: Listen with the Heart.” His points are very helpful. I’ll share four of them.

“Listen beyond the words to the feelings.” This is very important. Maybe your friend asks why you didn’t arrive on time, or she says that she’s angry that you forgot an appointment. Behind her anger is really a feeling that you don’t care. She’s hurt.

“Allow others’ emotions to touch you.” Don’t say, “You shouldn’t feel like that,” or, “Oh, just get over it.” People feel loved when they know you care.

“Communication is understanding, not determining who’s right.” If you are always trying to prove you are right and the other person is wrong, no one wins.

“Effective communication starts with safety.” Criticism and threats cause others to shut down.

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