1. Listening – “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.” James 1.19. God gave us two ears and one mouth. But one would hardly know it. We are so eager to talk that we frequently have our next thoughts together, even when we listen less carefully to what is being said to us. We go in with what we have to say and don’t listen.
For women in particular, having someone to talk to is important. When the husband comes home at night from work, a woman wants to talk about her day. The husband is often tired and disconnected. However, it is the process of listening – which can begin by simply asking a question: How was your day? – that is an important part of the relationship.
When a couple does not hear or talk to each other, they netherlands email list will tend to drift apart. Therefore, it is critical every day to engage in conversation. It is a sign of love for one another.
2. Listen to God – Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they know me.” John 10:27
Likewise, it is so easy to rush to church and tell God what we need. God knows what we need even before we ask and God can provide it. But, we have truly heard from God. It is important to note that when Jesus gave the disciples what we know as the Lord’s Prayer, there are three postulates that begin the prayer: First, “Hallowed be Thy name.” Second, “Thy kingdom come,” and Third, “Thy will be done.” Notice that these are prayers to God. It is only after we pray these prayers that Jesus asks us to ask for prayers for our daily need for bread, forgiveness of our sins, and guidance on our path that cover the essentials of our present, past, and future.
God can guide us. The Archbishop of Canterbury, William Temple, once said, “When I pray, coincidences happen. When I stop praying, coincidences stop happening.” If we listen to God and discern God’s will and pray for God’s three requests in the Lord’s Prayer, then when we ask God for what concerns us, we can ask in a much better way, one that is more consistent with God’s purpose in our life.
