"When you call out to me and come to me in prayer I will listen to you." Jeremiah 29:12
You may think that God wants to hear only certain requests from us. God is willing to listen to anything we want to tell him. In Psalm 64:1, David expressed himself honestly, knowing that God would hear his voice. "Hear me, O God, as I voice my complaint." I have discovered what a good listener my God is. There’s nothing we can't talk to him about. He's never too busy to hear our requests. The Lord won't interrupt us while we are talking and He won't be quick to criticize us. He won't storm out of the room because of anything we say.
Research shows that the average person listens with only 25% efficiency - meaning there is a lot we let go in through one ear and out through the other. While discussing the importance of listening with my students of Interpersonal Communication course, a few characteristics of good listeners caught my special attention.
First, good listeners are PRESENT. They really put everything down like their mobile phones and focus on the person in front of them. When we talk to God we have His full presence and undivided attention because you are precious to Him. Dear child of God, you may be feeling pretty worthless and beaten down right now. Life has probably thrown more problems and worries at you than you can handle. Take heart! “You are precious in my eyes,” God says, “and I love you” (Isaiah 43:4a).
Second, good listeners are EMPATHETIC. They put themselves in the other person's position and understand the experience even before you talk to them. There is no one who can empathize with you and understand your shortcomings better than Jesus.
Third, good listeners HAVE AN OPEN MIND. They don't listen with a critical or biased mind. God listens to us with an open mind. He will never listen to you with a critical attitude.
Fourth, great listeners are COMFORTABLE WHEN THEY LISTEN TO THINGS THEY DON'T WANT TO HEAR. A bad listener will say "I am great at listening when someone is telling me the things I want to hear". God is a great listener. We can 'unload' on Him. He invites us to come to Him with our problems, questions, worries, and anxieties. The Bible says Psalm 55: 22 "Pile your troubles on God's shoulders. He will carry your load. He will help you out.
It is offensive to God when we bombard others with our problems. It displeases Him when we fail to make Him our number one choice when we need to unload on someone. My God is a great listener. Is He at the top of your list whenever you need someone to talk to? Whenever you talk to God, He listens. Your life is precious to Him. He takes you seriously. He loves to listen to you. Your voice will never be ignored. Even if nobody is impressed by your words, they impress God. He listens to the painful cries of the lonely, the remorseful confessions of the sinner, and the lamentations of the oppressed. He listens to your deep sighs of anguish and the inward groanings of your tired soul. Only He can understand the depth of your anguish and only He can provide the answers you desperately need.
Let's pray: "Lord, I am sorry for the times I needed someone to talk to and I made You my last resort or I didn't talk to You at all. Change my heart and renew my mind so that I will always come to You first when I need an empathetic ear or when I need to get rid of something off my chest. As I turn to You more and more, help me to come to know You as I never have before." Amen.
Grace to you and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
