Prudent people don’t flaunt their knowledge; talkative fools broadcast their silliness.
Proverbs 12:23 MSG
Listening before speaking is a smart way to live. That’s difficult when you feel like you could just pop with something to say. But God says to wait patiently instead of letting it all go in one big breath. That’s because your tongue can get you into trouble quicker than anything else. So, if you want your words to count, you will hold them until the right time and place. Following are some ways to communicate powerfully.
Seeking to understand before being understood brings lots of reward. Doing so requires careful discipline, but it is worth the extra effort. Ask questions to clarify the other’s viewpoint before expressing your own.
Active listening promotes healthy relationships. Lean forward and focus on what is being said instead of what you will say next. Your looking into someone’s eyes instead of multitasking lets that person know she or he is valued.
Listen calmly and absorb the new information coming your way and you will appear wise. Others will respect your quiet demeanor.
Once you have listened well, it will be your time to speak. By then your understanding will have incubated and hatched some authentic wisdom on the situation.
Father God, please help me remember to practice listening before speaking. I want my words to count in Your kingdom.
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Today’s reading was adapted from Daily Wisdom for Women: 2018 Devotional Collection with permission from Barbour Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Reading was written by Emily Biggers.