Latest / HAVE FAITH LET IT BEGIN® / Finding God in a world that never stops: Ep 7: The Lost Art of Listening

Transcript

Finding God in a world that never stops: Ep 7: The Lost Art of Listening · HAVE FAITH LET IT BEGIN®

• 0:00
  Welcome to Have Faith, Let It Begin. This is Ariel Santana.
• 0:04
  Can you believe I'm seven years old already? I'm old enough now to introduce my dad.
• 0:10
  Ladies and gentlemen, your host, my dad, Angel Santana.
• 0:47
  Hello, everyone, and welcome to another episode of Half-Faith, Let It Begin.
• 0:51
  We are following the journey, slow down, finding God in a world that never stops.
• 0:57
  Episode seven, the lost art of listening.
• 1:02
  My name is Angel Santana. Half-Faith, Let It Begin welcomes you.
• 1:06
  And today's question is one that has challenged me personally.
• 1:12
  When someone is talking, are you truly listening?
• 1:16
  Or are you simply waiting for your turn to speak?
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  Oh boy, listening has become one of the rarest gifts we can offer another person.
• 1:27
  We hear, but we do, do we really listen?
• 1:32
  Today, let's slow down and open God's word together.
• 1:37
  Our primary scripture from the biblical perspective today comes from James 1, verse 19.
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  My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this. Everyone should be quick to
• 1:49
  listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.
• 1:54
  Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
• 1:56
  James wasn't just giving communication advice. He was describing a Christ-centered way of living.
• 2:04
  Being quick to listen requires humility.
• 2:08
  It requires patience. It requires putting someone else's voice before our own.
• 2:15
  Our supporting scripture comes from 1 Samuel 3, verse 10.
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  When God called young Samuel, Samuel responded, Speak, for your servant is listening.
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  Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
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  Samuel wasn't just hearing God's voice. He was ready to receive it.
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  Listening always begins with willing heart.
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  Jesus modeled this beautiful and beautifully thought, well, beautifully throughout his ministry.
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  People consistently came to him with questions, fears, pain, and doubts.
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  Before he taught, before he healed, and before he responded, he listened.
• 3:03
  Whether it was the woman at the well, Nicodemus in the night,
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  or a desperate father pleading for his child, Jesus gave people something they
• 3:12
  desperately needed, his attention.
• 3:15
  Have you ever noticed how often conversations become competitions? They do in my house.
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  Someone tells a story, and we immediately think of our own.
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  Someone shares a struggle, and we already planned our response.
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  Someone begins talking, and before they finished, we've already interrupted them.
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  We've become so accustomed to expressing ourselves that we've forgotten how
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  to receive someone else's words.
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  Real listening is more than staying quiet. It's making someone feel heard.
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  One of the greatest gifts you can give another human being is your undivided attention.
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  Sometimes people don't need advice. Sometimes they don't need a solution.
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  Sometimes they simply need someone who cares enough to listen.
• 4:10
  How many marriages would be stronger if we listened more?
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  How many friendships would grow deeper? How many misunderstandings could be avoided?
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  Listening slows us down. It reminds us that every person has a story.
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  Every heart carries burdens we can't always see.
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  And every conversation is an opportunity to reflect the love of Christ,
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  especially when we truly listen.
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  We communicate something powerful. You matter. Heart check. Let's pause together.
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  When someone is speaking, are you fully present? Or are you just distracted
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  by your phone, your schedule, or your next response?
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  Have you been listening for understanding or simply listening to reply?
• 5:04
  Ask God today to make you a better listener. Not only with people, but with Him.
• 5:11
  So here's your faith challenge this day. Here's your faith challenge.
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  Today, have one conversation when or where your goal isn't to give advice.
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  Your goal is simply to listen.
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  Ask thoughtful questions and maintain eye contact.
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  Don't interrupt. Don't rush. Just listen.
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  Then ask yourself tonight, did the person I spoke with feel heard?
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  Sometimes listening is one of the greatest acts of love. Here's today's takeaway.
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  People may forget your advice, but they'll remember how deeply you listened.
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  God gave us two ears and one mouth.
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  Perhaps that's his gentle reminder that listening should come first.
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  When we slow down enough to truly hear someone, we're following the example of Jesus.
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  May we become people who don't just hear words, but maybe we'll hear our hearts.
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  Because sometimes, the most powerful thing you can say is nothing at all. Amen.
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  Let's pray. Heavenly Father, thank you for listening, always listening to us.
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  Thank you for hearing every prayer, every joy, every fear, and every burden we bring before you.
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  Teach us to become better listeners. Help us to slow down and set aside distractions
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  and give us others the same grace and attention that you so freely give us.
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  May our conversations reflect the compassion of Christ and may our listening
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  become a testimony of your love.
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  Open our ears to hear your voice and soften our hearts to receive your wisdom.
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  We ask this in your precious name, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
• 7:05
  So before we wrap up today's episode, I'd like to ask you another small favor.
• 7:10
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• 7:16
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• 7:20
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• 7:29
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• 7:33
  every share helps each and every one of us and helps us reach someone who may
• 7:38
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• 7:43
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• 7:49
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• 7:54
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• 7:57
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• 8:01
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• 8:10
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• 8:12
  Thank you for being a part of Half-Faith Let It Begin family.
• 8:15
  And thank you for listening to Have Faith, Let It Begin podcast,
• 8:20
  a federally registered trademark, because we here deal with real people,
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  real stories, and real faith.
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  Until next time, keep the faith, slow your pace, and let God lead the way.
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  So God bless you, and never forget, to have faith, let it begin. Take care.