Listen

 

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.

Proverbs 12:15

 

 

As people we have to always look to the Source, God, for what’s right and what’s wrong. Not look to this world, not YouTube, not your job, not social media. While it’s good to receive understanding and revelation, it should not always be the go-to, or the source of our life. This world doesn’t determine where we will live for eternity, although following the culture and the way of this world can lead to eternal death because it’s ways are always in the opposite direction of God’s way.

 

Do not be conformed to the patterns of this world but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind. (Romans 12:2 )

 

Of course He gives us spiritual leaders to help guide, teach, equip us, etc…, but they are not our Source. They are our brothers and sisters in Christ doing the will of their Father. We all need our own relationship with God. It is His spirit that dwells within us that reveals His wisdom, knowledge and plan for our lives. It is His Spirit that teaches us and ministers to us. Even when listening to someone who is being used by God, it’s not the person who is speaking but the Spirit of the living God. Their body that the Spirit of God is dwelling in is just the temple, they are the willing vessel that is being used by God.

 

 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. ( 1 Corinthians 6:19 )

 

We all have temples whether they are submitted to God and cleansed or not. Either way, the sovereign ruler of this universe, God, can speak through anybody for His marvelous plan to unfold in your life, all you need to do is listen. That’s why you have to be careful with who you judge because that same person could have your answered prayer, your breakthrough, your blessing, and all you need is receiving ears or a receiving heart. Who knows, that person you ran into and refused to get to know or show love and hospitality to, may have been an angel in disguise.

 

Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. ( Hebrews 13:2)

 

Overall, it is not through a pastor, historical figure, textbooks or even the forgiveness of friends that we are saved but it is through Jesus Christ, Himself.  So seeking His voice in all that we do, watch, or see is the ultimate goal.

 

It’s good to listen to those who are in your life but just because you listen to them doesn’t mean you should without a doubt cling onto it without checking the source in which they got it from…that’s not wise. You can listen to someone without coming into full agreement with them. You can listen to someone and disagree with them, you can listen to someone without magnifying them, idolizing them, or putting them on a pedestal. You can listen to someone without devaluing them or making them question their own reality or beliefs, as well as making fun of their beliefs, (unless you have followed up with the Father and know what to be true!) When you listen, you need to discern, and really pay attention to what they are saying.

 

If it’s something new you’ve never heard before, never be afraid to ask questions or dive deep into the conversation. Understand them and their perspective and in your quiet time take it to your Abba, Father. Follow up with what the person said, test what they are saying by aligning it with Scripture. Fill in the missing pieces, and if you find the person to be wrong, it’s okay. You don’t have to accuse them or mock and make fun of them for it. They are only human. That’s why it’s important to not rely on their word only without going to seek Him up above. You can listen to someone’s word or reasoning without disrespecting them. And I believe the hard part is trying to make them understand you and where you’re coming from. I find it best to understand them and listen to what they have to say to show them that you are on their side, whether you agree with them or disagree with them. No one ever listens to someone who doesn’t want to understand them and is against them all the time. Especially when a lot of us grew up with parents who had the ‘I’m right and you’re wrong just because I’m the adult and you’re the child’ mentality.

 

Of course in life parents know best because they’ve experienced more but that doesn’t mean they’ve learned from their lessons. They’re just trying to force a child to be the best that they couldn’t be, which is understanding. Who doesn’t want their child to be the best version of themselves or who doesn’t want their child to not make the same mistakes they’ve made? Although their intentions behind it were good, the steps they’ve taken weren’t quite correct. The proper way would be the parent healing and learning from their lessons so they could be a great example but some parents never get a chance to live that out so unfortunately they try to tell a child to do what they couldn’t do. Which can be hard sometimes because that child doesn’t have an example or one to look up to depending on the environment.  Some parents have always placed that competition standpoint or some kind of rivalry in between them and their child when it comes to knowing something. Oftentimes they never give a child a chance to be imaginative, communicative, or expressive around them, so growing up and taking on that mentality is kind of hard to get rid of when God created you to be creative, spontaneous, and explorative. Thank God for His grace though.

 

So when approaching someone it’s good to be that person who you need in the moment of your down times or good times. It’s good to be the person with a listening ear with the risk of that person never listening to you, as hard as that may sound, it’s more exciting. You get to explore someone else’s journey and experience, it takes you to another part of the world you’ve never been before as if you were in their shoes or right along with them in their journey, whether good or bad. It’s healthy to create a safe space for someone to open up and share their experience without you sharing yours. And the more you win their heart the more open they will be to receive what you have to say. It’s impossible to say you’re helping someone without love. Love listens, it doesn’t force itself upon a person, it is patient, it waits until it’s asked a question, or is even acknowledged or mentioned. Love waits no matter how long it takes.

 

Love is patient,

Love is kind.

It does not envy,

It does not boast,

It is not proud.

It does not dishonor others,

It is not self-seeking,

It is not easily angered,

It keeps no record of wrongs.

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails.

(1 Corinthians 13:4-8)

 

When listening to someone and it’s something you’ve heard before, listen again. That person could be used as a vessel to stop you in your tracks from doing something you will regret later. What they’re saying could potentially  stop you from danger or harm’s way. It could be something you simply need to hear again.

 

When listening to someone for advice be receptive because you’ve made the decision to come to them but always remember to check the source. You never know what or who is influencing them. It could be the flesh, a demon, the world’s standards & influence or God’s Spirit. No matter who it is you have to check the Word of God, and study for yourself.

 

Never let someone talk you out of what you know to be right or wrong. Keep what God showed you close to you. Don’t let anyone influence you to compromise. Cling to what is good. Never doubt what has been shown to you by faith.

 

Just because something isn’t in the Bible word for word, doesn’t mean God does/doesn’t approve of it. Just like a detective has to find all the clues and put them together in order to find the culprit, that’s what one must do to know if God loves or hates it. When seeing what’s wrong and right, good and evil, pleasing or displeasing you have to search the Scriptures, bind them together like a puzzle to see the bigger picture.

 

In order to know what medicine to take to cure your illness you have to see if the symptoms on the bottle match the ones you’ve experienced.

 

The same with sin. First in order to know whether it’s a sin you have to find the symptoms. In this case, search the Scriptures. Gather Scriptures in context together that explains the deed that is wrong or right. Then, when discovered to see if something is right or wrong you have to take your medicine in order to be healed. Meditate on the scriptures to keep you empowered, to help you walk in the Spirit. To beware of the evil traps and snares of the enemy.

 

Listen with love, with patience, and with respect, then go to God and share your experience or conversation with Him in the secret place, so He can examine and correct what needs to be corrected.

 

Don’t bash someone or gossip about someone if you find them to be wrong.

 

First, listen and learn for yourself. You can then personally have a conversation with them about what you found to be true in the Scriptures and not based on your own understanding. It never works with man’s wisdom for man’s wisdom is foolish but by the wise words of the Lord, gently persuade and humbly correct in order to win your brother’s heart!