An electric current shoots down your back rippling out in shivers. Eyes focused on yours nail you to your chair, causing you to forget what you are saying. Inner warmth rises to your cheeks as you realize someone is listening to every word you are saying. Zing! Shazam!

This actually happened to me. It caused me to realize that, without meaning to, we sometimes become careless about how we listen to each other.

Consider these elements when you are listening to another:

1.  Are your eyes on theirs?

2. Is your thinking connected with the content and heart meaning of their words?

3. Are you leaning forward with interest?

As we begin a month centered on human relationship and love, let us pay attention to how we listen to each other.

Why?

When we intentionally (mindfully) listen to another, we bestow a great gift:  we show we value the person speaking, even if we aren’t particularly interested in or disagree with what they are saying.

Now let’s consider another relationship: God.  Can we—should we—give any less to God the Father, God the Son (Christ Jesus), and God the Holy Spirit?

Jesus said, “The Lord our God is One Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12: 30–31

May this month be the beginning of a new relationship with Jesus. May we go to Him each day ready to share our hearts and ready to listen to Him. Oh how He loves you and me! He longs to spend quality time with us.

God’s blessings,

Patty

Blessed Connections:

Therese Marszalek Ministries: www.theresemarszalek.com

Pastor Adam Fox; Gateway Church, Spokane, WA:  www.gatewayspokane.org

GOOD MORNING GOD (a pamphlet of scriptures, free for downloading)