Character Quality Attentive

Whether they admit it or not, everyone longs for someone to listen to them and care for them.  Sometimes when we are speaking, we feel someone is not listening to us and assume they do not care.  How many times have we offended God and others by not being attentive and paying attention to what they said?  Real relationship is built on listening to God and to each other.

God listens to us and His attention to our thoughts and needs brings comfort and stability to our daily living.  

The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their cry.  (Psalm 34:15 NIV)

God wants to care for others through us.  God's Holy Spirit will help us listen attentively to what others are saying, so that we can comfort and help them find the healing they need.  Caring enough to listen well is something we can all develop.  It begins with a willingness to stop being self-centered and needing another’s attention to be directed to us.  

To be attentive, we must stop speaking and try listening.  We must quiet the voices in our head that have a response prepared before a person has half a sentence spoken.  

Be humble. Value others more than yourselves. None of you should look out just for your own good. Each of you should also look out for the good of others.  (Philippians 2:3-4 NIRV)

It takes effort and intention to stay interested in what someone is sharing and to really listen to them.  Let’s choose this way of expressing our love and care for someone today as we choose to listen closely to what they are saying. 

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, You care about what is going on inside me and listen every time I come to You with my concerns.  Help me to love like You love and give the gift of a listening ear and a caring heart to those who speak with me.  My desire is to truly care for others by being attentive to whatever they are sharing with me.  Amen