More Than Just Not Talking
Theme of the Week: Attentive Listening
Jedd Medefind & Erik Lokkesmoe
Tuesday, March 7, 2006
 1 of 1
Key Bible Verse: "Listen carefully to what I am about to tell you" (Luke 9:44, NIV).Bonus Reading: 1 Kings 19:9-13
If your mind is buzzing with internal noise or overwhelmed with activity, you tend to notice only what promises immediate satisfaction of your own self-focused interests. And in an era that measures time in nanoseconds, waiting can be painful. But when you do quietly wait, your senses begin to open and notice nuances. You'll need to …
… Sacrifice distractions. Multi-tasking always diminishes attentiveness. Removing distractions enhances your perceptivity. Shut off cell phones and the background tv, and place the newspaper on the floor. Turn away from the computer—even if your conversation is over the phone. You may think no one notices, but they do. Making these "sacrifices" shows that you're serious about listening.
… Involve your whole body. Physical posture has a surprising impact on your interactions: Force your eyes not to rove; set shoulders square toward the other; avoid crossing your arms. These actions express interest and help you remain engaged.
Like pulling back on the chain of an overeager puppy, you must repeatedly drag your focus away from everything else that tugs at your thoughts—and on to the person before you.
—Jedd Medefind & Erik Lokkesmoe in The Revolutionary Communicator
My Response: To better focus on the person talking to me, I need to …
Thought to Apply: Wherever you are, be all there.—JIM ELLIOT (missionary martyr)
Adapted from The Revolutionary Communicator (Relevant Books, 2004) by permission.
Copyright © 2006 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity magazine.Click here for reprint information on Men of Integrity. 1 of 1
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Lord, help me cultivate inner silence to hear Your voice—and what others are trying to tell me.
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