Pause

Imagine a game of tug-o-war. Without both teams the rope would simply fall to the ground and there would be no game or fun.

Now imagine on one side of the rope is "listening" and on the other side is "doing." There is a tension between the two, but they are both needed.

We can't truly listen without it changing us in some way – our ideas, our knowledge, our way of living. We can't truly do anything without first listening – to our thoughts, to God's call, or to the voices of others.

We need both listening and doing.

Listen

Fools think their own way is right,
but the wise listen to advice.

Proverbs 12:15

Think

If someone were to ask if I wanted to be wise or unwise I would instantly know the answer. I want to be wise. Yet when I hear good advice, too often I don’t take it.

I think one of the main ingredients to listening to others is not being prideful. We take so much pride in ourselves that we assume we know best. If we could stop thinking we were the best, we might be able to listen to the advice of others.

We might hear how they have been where we are and survived. We might hear how they know a better way out of a frustrating situation. We might even hear some ways to experience God that we never knew before.

Let go of your pride so that the people who surround you might be able to speak words you will listen to.

Andrew Noe

Pray

Lord, help me to lay down my pride today. Too often I believe I know the answers. Guide me to listen to you and others so that I might make wise choices. Amen.

Go

Today is a day of tug-o-war,
Listening and doing pulling at you.
Sometimes listening is more important;
In other moments we are called to action.
In both, God is present.
Pray for God's guidance to know when
You should do and when you should listen.