Teach Him To Listen

TRUTH

Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding.
Proverbs 2:2 NLT

TALK TO GOD
Lord, I confess that it is hard to be a good listener. It is so easy to want to jump in, defend myself, offer an opinion, or share what I think about a situation. Today, I lift my husband up to You, and I pray that he will tune his ears to wisdom and focus on understanding. Help him listen to understand rather than to debate or disagree. Help him set aside his own opinions and truly pay attention to what the other person is saying. Help him do this at home, at work, and in every conversation he has. You call us to be good listeners. Your Word tells us to be “quick to listen” (James 1:19), so I pray that my husband will be quick to listen and eager to understand above all else. In Jesus’ name, amen.

THINK
How are your listening skills? Are you concentrating on understanding the other person? Are you quick to listen and understand?

TAKE ACTION
The next time you are tempted to respond to your husband’s communication with defensiveness or by offering your opinion, ask him three questions to better understand what he has shared. Then thank him for sharing. If you have something to add to the conversation, save it for another day. For now, simply focus on listening.