Introduction
I don’t know when I first learned how to listen but it became very evident to me that I didn’t know how on my first day of Music Appreciation class at SUNY (State University of New York). My professor played a part of a musical score and asked me to tell him what I heard. As hard as I tried I didn’t know what he was talking about. He repeated it again and then when he told me I was flabbergasted. Deep within the musical score was the tune “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”. I didn’t hear it at first. I didn’t know how to listen.
How true this must be compared to many other scenarios in my life. Do I listen to what is being said and hear the message being conveyed? More importantly, do I listen to God when He speaks? Do I even know how?
Read on.
Definitions
As I’ve stated in previous blogs, my section on definitions reflects how I am using these words to bring a better understanding to the reader.
Hearing
Hearing does not imply understanding. We often hear but we do not listen. Often the Bible uses the word hearing implying you are listening as well as hearing. The word “Hear” is used 550 times in the KJV of the Bible.
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” (Revelation 3:6) ESV
However the word “listen” is used only one time in the King James version of the Bible. Isaiah 49:1 says
“Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name.”
Listening
Listening is the skill of receiving and understanding what is being said by another party. What is being conveyed can done by word of mouth, gestures, sounds, and pictures either physically or spiritually as by our mind, conscience, or spirit.
NOTE: For this paper listening and hearing will be used interchangeably unless told otherwise.
Reading Between the Lines
A skill used to ascertain what is being conveyed even though the messenger has not explicitly stated his intent.
Speaking
Usually, that which is conveyed as instructions and information by word of mouth or actions. Written communication can also “speak” to us; as in the Bible, the Word of God.
“Go near and hear all that the LORD our God will say, and speak to us all that the LORD our God will speak to you, and we will hear and do it.” (Deuteronomy 5:27) ESV
“But when I speak with you, I will open your mouth, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD.’ He who will hear, let him hear; and he who will refuse to hear, let him refuse, for they are a rebellious house.” (Ezekiel 3:27) ESV
Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star
This simple children’s tune originated as a poem written by the English author Jane Taylor. I cannot remember the exact piece I listened to in school but I do know that at the age of 25, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart traveled to Vienna in 1781 and wrote Twelve Variations on Ah, vous dirai-je, Maman. What I heard may have been a short excerpt of Haydn’s Symphony No. 94 ‘Surprise’, in which the melody resides. For more information click here.
Listen
It takes more effort to listen than it does to speak. If you listen properly you reason at the same time trying to make sense of what you hear and apply what you hear accordingly. It’s called “active listening”. You can only learn by listening you inquire by talking. You must learn to listen with your ears and mind as well as your spirit. I am sure you can remember times when you were speaking to someone but they were not listening. They may tell you they heard you but they did not understand. This is certainly true of believers in Jesus Christ as they hear and read the Word of God (Bible), as well as non-believers.
Why Do We Need to Listen
The answer to this question may be obvious, but listen anyway!
First: If we Christians are to seek His Kingdom first, as we are instructed to do, listening becomes a tool where: communications with Almighty God are understood, your relationship with Him becomes personal, and your call (mission) through Him becomes possible.
Second: If we are to reside in the outside world (outside of Christianity) until He comes we must understand it, and be able to accurately convey His gospel with understanding and conviction. By doing so His plan for mankind can be fulfilled. (Read “Fulfilling God’s Needs”, click here)
Now understand that God has spoken to us and He continues to. Have we listened?
“Then his disciples approached Jesus and asked, “Why do you always speak to people in these hard-to-understand parables?” He explained, “You’ve been given the intimate experience of insight into the hidden truths and mysteries of the realm of heaven’s kingdom, but they have not. For everyone who listens with an open heart will receive progressively more revelation until he has more than enough. But those who don’t listen with an open, teachable heart, even the understanding that they think they have will be taken from them. That’s why I teach the people using parables, because they think they’re looking for truth, yet because their hearts are unteachable, they never discover it. Although they will listen to me, they never fully perceive the message I speak. The prophecy of Isaiah describes them perfectly: Although they listen carefully to everything I speak, they don’t understand a thing I say. They look and pretend to see, but the eyes of their hearts are closed. Their minds are dull and slow to perceive, their ears are plugged and are hard of hearing, and they have deliberately shut their eyes to the truth. Otherwise they would open their eyes to see, and open their ears to hear, and open their minds to understand. Then they would turn to me and let me instantly heal them. “But your eyes are privileged, for they see. Delighted are your ears, for they are open to hear all these things. Many prophets and godly people in times past yearned to see these days of miracles that you’ve been favored to see. They would have given everything to hear the revelation you’ve been favored to hear. Yet they didn’t get to see as much as a glimpse or hear even a whisper. ”(Matthew 13:10 – 17) TPT
“…Things never discovered or heard of before, things beyond our ability to imagine—these are the many things God has in store for all his lovers.” (1 Corinthians 2:9) TPT
Keys to Active Listening (for source click here) These 12 steps to listening must be applied to people of all walks of life; believers, non-believers, educated, non-educated, and all ethnic peoples around the globe regardless of their status.
1. Maintain eye contact with the speaker if possible.
2. Pay attention and listen for ideas.
3. Find areas of interest.
4. Judge content, not delivery.
5. Don’t interrupt and be patient
6. Have patience before speaking, holding back your points or counterpoints.
7. Resist distractions.
8. Pay attention to nonverbal information.
9. Keep your mind open, and be flexible.
10. Ask questions during pauses and give feedback.
11. Listen with empathy and try and see the speaker’s viewpoint.
12. Anticipate, summarize, weigh the evidence, and look between the lines.
Hindrances to Listening
It’s not always easy to listen; many people listen differently. For example, when I’m studying or reading I cannot have any noise in the background such as TV, music, talking, etc. I’ve known many student friends who would blast a radio while studying. I cannot. However on occasion, if my interest is piqued, I can read and blank out all outside noises with full concentration on what I am doing. It is during these times when time itself seems to disappear. I’ll be reading and finish reading in what seems to be minutes, when in fact an hour or two may have passed. This is true listening and concentration. Otherwise, we usually have many obstacles to overcome such as:
1. Distraction (spiritual of course and also people interference like talking and noise,)
2. Fatigue
3. Poor hearing
4. Lack of interest
5. Lack of understanding
6. Prejudiced toward the speaker
7. Preconceived conclusions
Sometimes the problem isn’t with the listener but with the speaker, as in: poor delivery of the message, too wordy, lack of interest, and insufficient knowledge of the topic.
The ability to listen becomes very important to the Christian. For us to get closer to our Savior we must listen to Him, the Holy Spirit and have good discernment of the Word of God so that we may correctly minister and preach with understanding.
Supporting Scriptures on Hearing, Listening, and Speaking(there are many)
“Making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; (Proverbs 2:2)
“Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.” (Proverbs 19:20) ESV
“If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame.” (Proverbs 18:13)
“Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger” (James 1: 19) ESV
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says…” (Revelation 2:11) ESV
“To whom shall I speak and give warning, that they may hear? Behold, their ears are uncircumcised, they cannot listen; behold, the word of the Lord is to them an object of scorn; they take no pleasure in it.” (Jeremiah 16:10) ESV
“But when I speak with you, I will open your mouth, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD.’ He who will hear, let him hear; and he who will refuse to hear, let him refuse, for they are a rebellious house.” (Ezekiel 3:27) ESV
Speaking
Although this paper is on listening I must mention that speaking clearly and articulately has much to do with what others hear. You cannot expect others to understand you if your subject matter is disjointed, not organized, or to the point. Knowing your audience and knowing your subject matter becomes paramount in another’s ability to listen.
How Do You Listen to God Speaking
This is not rocket science. Think;
1. Spend time with Him. You can’t hear Him if you are not with Him.
2. Read His Word – the Bible. Do this consistently (religiously). You will hear His voice in His Word.
3. Study His Word that you may understand.
4. Make yourself available to be a disciple. By doing so you will not only come to know His Word but learn how to apply it to everyday living. If you can’t apply it, what use is it?
5. Be quiet before Him. If you don’t hear from Him at first, be patient. It may take a lifetime but meanwhile, you have His Word which will become His voice to you.
6. Remember that God can speak to you anytime and under any circumstance. Make yourself listen.
Conclusion
All of us have seen and experienced circumstances where people, including Christians, do not listen. It can become very frustrating. Having had that experience it would behoove us to pay closer attention when we listen. This is especially true when it comes to things of the Spirit. Our inner spirit and mind need discipline in this arena. Although all I have said above can be applied to all of our lives it is of most importance when applied to our spiritual life.
“Throughout our history, God has spoken to our ancestors by his prophets in many different ways. The revelation he gave them was only a fragment at a time, building one truth upon another. But to us living in these last days, God now speaks to us openly in the language of a Son, the appointed Heir of everything, for through him God created the panorama of all things and all time.” (Hebrews 1: 1,2) TPT
If we listen to no one else, listen to Him. He may speak anytime, usually when you least expect it. I’m still learning.
Enough Said
“Thy Words were found, and I did eat them, and Thy Word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by Thy name, O LORD God of hosts.” (Jeremiah 15:16)
