Honoring Service and Sharpening Listening Skills

We hope this Fist Bump finds you enjoying Memorial Day and spending quality time with your family and friends. We are thankful today for the sacrifice of those who have served and fought for our freedom.

The following comment caught our attention this week and is the topic of today's Fist Bump:

"Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply," says Steven Covey.

We started a new devotion this past week focused on James. We both commented on how much we enjoyed James, given the great advice he provided. James Is the guy you would like to have breakfast with once a week for his counsel and encouragement. He had the rare combination of compassion and in-your-face advice. Thinking about Covey's comment, check out this verse from James:

"My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to LISTEN, slow to speak and slow to become angry" James 1:19

How many times do we fail to do this? Slow to speak and slow to become angry. We tend to shoot, ready, and aim with our words. Dangerous!

Listening is a way to show love and respect to others. When you listen, you affirm you care about the person you are with. By listening, we tell them through our actions that they are important to us and that what they say is meaningful. Stop and think about how often someone is talking to you and you are looking at your cell phone. This happens in meetings, and we even catch ourselves doing this when we talk to each other. 

How about your wife and kids? Do they know how much you care and love them by how you LISTEN to them? If your kids are talking to you and you are looking at text, email, the news, or social media, what message does that send them?  

Those who played sports know that it takes PRACTICE if you want to be good at anything. It's the same with listening. To become a good listener, we need to practice. Practice putting our phones away and listening to what others say. You might be amazed at what you learn and allow God to work in and through you.

"If one answers before he HEARS, it is his folly and shame." Proverbs 18:13

"LISTEN to advice and accept instruction, that you might gain wisdom in the future" Proverbs 19:20

Proverbs are a great source of information on how to live our lives. The Bible is the BEST management book ever!!

Finally, we are so thankful God listens to us. He never is distracted and is focused on what we say to him. He gives us his complete attention—no cell phone distractions for God.

"Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I WILL LISTEN TO YOU. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart" Jeremiah 29:12-13

As we start a new week, may we all focus on our listening skills, put our cell phones away, and show those important to us how much we care about them and what they are saying to us. Let's focus more on UNDERSTANDING and less on our reply.

It will be a great spot to put your LISTENING skills into practice and put your cell phones away.

Have a GREAT week, gents.