Posts Tagged: James 1:19

“2022: The Year of Listening”

On January 2, 2022 by Dteb With 0 Comments - down to earth believer

Because of the encouragement of Jon Gordon, I have been taking a word or a short phrase as my mantra or focus for the year. For 2022, the word is “Listening”. This year I am listening.

Initially, I was planning to make “Talking Less” my focus. However, it occurred to me that this was a “not-goal”—and not-goals are not good. So, I decided on listening.

This listening will have several aspects. Here are a few that I have identified:

  1. Listening to God.
  2. Listening to Myself.
  3. Listening to Others.

I’m sure that there are other schematic ways of breaking this down, but this seems to me to be a good way to try to wrap my mind around what I am trying to be and become this year. Not all my blog posts will deal with listening, but probably several will. As readers of this blog, you have the right to ask me how the listening is going. Questions, discussion, and your own insights are, of course, most welcome. I will try to listen!

I have no illusion that this is going to be an easy mantra. I’ve never been as good at listening as I have been at talking. Still, hard things are often precisely where the growth is. I hope to grow in my ability to listen this year.

Andy Stanley has a wonderful sermon in which he challenges us to “be quick to listen, slow to speak.” As he admits, he stole these words from James (James 1:19). Unfortunately, I have too often turned around James’ (and Stanley’s) admonition. I’ve been a machine gun when it comes to speaking and refrigerated molasses when it comes to listening. It’s high time I became a biblical listener.

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“Confessions of a Blabber Mouth”

On November 13, 2021 by Dteb With 0 Comments - down to earth believer

1 “Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil. 2 Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few. 3 For a dream comes with much business, and a fool’s voice with many words.” (Ecclesiastes 5:13, English Standard Version)

“Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;” (James 1:19, English Standard Version)

I talk too much. I’ve known this since I was fairly young. My wife and friends tolerate it because they love me. Others pretend to tolerate it.

Let me say more about this.

See what I mean?! I talk a lot even when I’m writing and not talking.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I frequently say things that are quite helpful to people. However, as with everything else in life, too much is too much. Nobody really wants to sift the sand along the seashore to find an occasional gem.

So, here is what I’ve decided to do.

  1. I have decided to join another twelve-step program, Talker’s Anonymous. I’m not sure if such an organization actually exists. If not, I may have to start one.

2. I have decided to start asking myself a series of questions before I speak.

Is this true?

Is this likely to helpful?

Is this the right time to say what I am thinking of saying?

Of course, the possibility exists that, by the time I have answered these questions, the conversation will have swirled on to other matters. Would that be a fatal thing—or even a serious thing? Probably not?

There is an old rabbinic saying which counsels students to “say little and do much.” Good advice! I think I’ll take it to heart—and to my lips.

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