Fighting to ListenSample

The Wise Hearer

A wise person is always learning. The best leaders are continuously seeking growth.

We spend so much of our time trying to justify who we already are. And sometimes, our stubbornness gets in the way of who we might become.

How do we learn? How do we grow?

We do so by listening to others: opening our hearts and minds to the ideas, stories, and experiences of those around us. The Bible talks a lot about the power of listening. (Matthew 13:15; Luke 10:16; Jeremiah 6:17, 25:4; Zechariah 7:11)

It takes true humility to hear others for what they are worth. It takes curiosity and a real sense of value in the person across from you. We are made for the community. We grow by hearing what people around us say and then discerning what to absorb and deflect.

There is a convicting passage in 1 John 4:20 which challenges all believers: “If they cannot love their brothers and sisters, whom they have seen, how can they love God, whom they have not seen?”

Listening to others is the gateway to hearing God’s voice. It takes an added measure of humility, curiosity, and appreciation of value to internalize what God is saying and let it transform our minds, attitudes, and behavior.

Yellow Balloons explores the far-reaching applications and impact of just one of the Servant Leadership tools: the power of perspective to transform people and organizations. The Yellow Balloons Devotionals are a daily reminder of the great opportunities of life, connecting age-old biblical truths with our modern-day lives in a way that is simple, practical, and easy to understand. If you are interested in getting a free copy of the Yellow Balloons book and additional devotional resources, visit https://yellowballoons.net/.