Ron Hutchcraft Ministries - Communicating Better - #8020

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

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OK, so I’m talking to somebody, I lose my train of thought, and I go, “What was I saying?” It’s so funny to look at their expression! They get this baffled look on their face—this embarrassed look—and they go, “I have no idea what you were talking about.” So you could count on one hand the number of times anyone knew what you were talking about.

I’m Ron Hutchcraft, and the fact is, most of us are not communication majors. We could use some help in communicating with our spouse, with our kids, with our coworkers, with people in general. Well, here’s a great description of effective communication from God himself, and He does it in just ten words in James 1:19 . Let’s see how much this describes how you communicate. He says, “Be slow to speak, quick to listen, slow to become angry.” Now we just reverse that. We go, “Well, be quick to speak and slow to listen.”

God says, “Let the other person talk. Listen not just for the words. Listen to their heart.” Ask second and third questions to understand better. Lose the ugly habit of interrupting. So much anger is from misunderstanding. But listen. If we were slow to speak and quick to listen, it’s going to be easier to be slow to anger.

For most of the people in your world, their language of love is to be heard and understood. And you can be sure if you put others first like this, your life will be one life that really matters in their lives.

For more spiritual encouragement, would you visit us at our website? It’s alifethatmatters.org, because God put you here to live a life that matters.

This radio program references: James 1:19