Tuning into God through active listening

James Cathcart January 17, 2024 2 3

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James 1: 19-27 (NRSVA)

19 You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for your anger does not produce God’s righteousness. 21 Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls.

22 But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. 23 For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; 24 for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like. 25 But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act—they will be blessed in their doing.

26 If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

Today I encourage you to find five minutes to sit with God in quiet. You could even set a timer to run for five minutes. Don’t worry about filling that time, with filling it with things you want to say to God. Instead just take the time to be with God in the quiet.

Prayer:

Dear God,

Help me to tune into you,

and more than that,

help me to become a more ‘active listener’

someone who listens out for the Spirit,

who pays attention with my whole body,

who participates,

who asks follow up questions.

Help me put words into practice.

Help me to find the frequencies of grace

the clear needs of others

coming through the static.

Amen.