On our leadership team, called Losers, we have been working on the skill of listening.  Not just being attentive, but allowing God to use us in His redemptive work in the lives of others through how we listen.  It is very difficult.  We are pretty much taught that we must speak into people’s lives.  After all,  power people are all talkers.  Wisdom can’t be shown if we don’t talk (or blog). Right?  So we listen just long enough to access the appropriate data file in our brain and then begin to download when the person speaking breathes. We also have our own problems and want someone to hear us too, so we often start relaying that info before we have truly listened.

We are learning that we need to die to our self (or be a Loser) to really listen.  And when we do that we can invite the person to speak more.  Often, listening in this way will remove barriers to grace that may exist and the person who is sharing can begin to feel the calming presence of Jesus and even understand what God is moving them to.

Listening in this way begins with being firmly rooted in Christ and knowing we that we are known by Him and safe in Him.

A challenging discipleship.

Christian Challenge