Healing Family Relationships Through ListeningSample

Listening is a big deal because listening is one of the essential ways we show love to our family members. A failure to listen is a failure to love. Not only can a failure to listen hinder our relationships with our family, but it can also affect our relationship with God.

Consider God's call to husbands in 1 Peter 3:7. First, God commands a husband to live in an "understanding way" with his wife. Understanding requires listening! Second, notice the warning at the end of the verse. What is the consequence for a husband who fails to seek understanding of his wife, who fails to show her honor? His prayers will be hindered.

Have you ever considered that your unwillingness to listen might be affecting your relationship with God? This is a sobering thought. God takes our family relationships seriously. He wants us to seek understanding, to show honor, and to listen well. When we fail to do this, it can create barriers not only in our earthly relationships, but in our vertical relationship with Him as well.

Today, make a commitment to listen for understanding. Ask God to help you truly hear what your family members are saying, to help you see past your own defensive reactions, and to give you a heart that desires to understand.

Reflection Question: How are relationships damaged when we fail to listen to one another?