Friday, March 4, 2011

Prayer to put Others First.

James 1:19 (New International Version, ©2011)
Listening and Doing
 19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 


I read this verse over and over again and it never stops speaking to me.

be quick to listen

slow to speak
slow to become angry

Normally in conversation I think to listen last, I have my own personal agenda and I am just thinking about my response. I am not slow to speak, I want to be heard, want my words to be the center of the conversation. I am not slow to become angry, I latch onto every slight and dwell on the negative. This verse is my mantra to end all that.

My Prayer:

Dear Lord please rest your hand upon my heart and soften it, humble it and help me to put other people first in conversation. Help me to let go of my agenda and to focus on the person I am with at all times. Please fill my heart with your love and help me to let go of the negative and forgive people even before the offend. Please fill my heart with loving understanding and help me to let go of the world's anger based on your love.

Amen.

8 comments:

Michelle said...

The friends that I have that ask questions, remember things, and really listen are so precious to me. I think it's really awesome that you want to grow in this.

Brian said...

Thanks for the comment! Asking questions and remembering things are definitely goals of mine especially exploring the hows of really putting others first in conversation. What does really listening mean to you?

Michelle said...

Google the word listening. I think you'll be interested in what you find.

Brian said...

I have done that many times. I was asking what it means to you when someone is truly listening.

Michelle said...

Oh, I'll think about it and send you a message.

Brian the old man said...

Amen! Thanks for sharing this! Love that verse!

Jean said...

I remember hearing years ago that we have two forms of input (ears) and one form of output (mouth), which makes me wonder if that was God's way of telling us to listen twice as much as we talk.

Jean said...

I remember hearing years ago that we have two forms of input (ears) and one form of output (mouth), which makes me wonder if that was God's way of telling us to listen twice as much as we talk.