Tag Archives: Proverbs 18:13

He Who Answers Before Listening

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 257 - Proverbs 18:13 - He Who Answers Before Listening - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 257 – Proverbs 18:13 – He Who Answers Before Listening – Growing As Disciples

He who answers before listening– that is his folly and his shame. Proverbs 18:13 (NIV) 

Listen Carefully, Speak Wisely 

That is exactly what I want to do. What do you want to do? I want to be able to listen carefully and speak wisely. It is good that you have linked those two thoughts together. Why is that? Those thoughts are intertwined. Those two ideas are inseparable. How so? You will never be able to speak wisely without learning to listen carefully. Do you know why that is? No, I don’t think so. Maybe I do, but I’m not sure. Take a guess. Not listening is a sure sign of pride. Not listening conveys the attitude that I have much to offer and no need to receive. It is the attitude of a “know it all”. A poor listener cuts themselves off from learning from others. A poor listener will never have the benefit of other’s insight. A poor listener will live forever with their blind spots that they can’t see by themselves. Why is that? It is easy to recognize a poor listener. A poor listener sends out signals that shout, “Don’t bother with me, because I won’t listen to you.” I don’t want to be that person. That’s good. 

How will you become a good listener? Where you will start? What will you do? I will start with you. It is the desire of my heart to hear from you. I want to listen to every word that you have to say to me. There is no one I want to hear from more than you. That’s good. So, I will withdraw from the noise and busyness of life. I will go to a quiet place. I will slow down and make myself attentive to you. I will separate myself from the swirl of activity all around me. Why will that be necessary? I am hard of hearing. Listening to you does not come naturally to me. No, it does not. Quieting myself before you will take all the strength that you will give to me. Why is that? Activity and busyness is my norm. Racing here and there and everywhere is my strength. It’s not really a strength. I know. It’s a huge weakness. But there is one thing I know for certain. What’s that? You will speak to me as I meet with you. You will speak to me as I meet with you in your word, and in prayer, and in worship. Yes, I will. 

What will happen to you as you listen attentively to me? You will give me wise words to speak as I listen attentively to you. Yes, I will.  What else? You will strengthen and develop my ability to listen to others as I keep on listening to you. Yes, I will. What else? As I listen to others, I will be more able to minister to them. You will give me wise and caring and loving words to speak that will bring life and healing to others. Yes, I will. Keep on listening to me. Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good. 

Lord, I know I have pridefully spoken quickly without listening carefully. I have often spoken unhelpful and unhealthy words I have deeply regretted. Help me to listen attentively to you. Help me to speak wise words that will build up and encourage others. Amen

Key Question… When have you made the mistake of speaking without listening carefully?

Living It Out… Listen carefully to the Lord so that you will be able to speak wisely to others.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will give you wise words to speak as you listen carefully to Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are listening carefully so you will be able to speak wisely.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you listen carefully to the Lord so you will be able to speak wisely to others.

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

Becoming Like Christ – Day 257 – Proverbs 18-13 – He Who Answers Before Listening – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                   Copying not permitted                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

Answers Before Listening

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 257 - Proverbs 18:13 - Answers Before Listening - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 257 – Proverbs 18:13 – Answers Before Listening – Growing As Disciples

He who answers before listening– that is his folly and his shame. Proverbs 18:13 (NIV) 

Listen Carefully, Speak Wisely 

That is exactly what I want to do. What do you want to do? I want to be able to listen carefully and speak wisely. It is good that you have linked those two thoughts together. Why is that? Those thoughts are intertwined. Those two ideas are inseparable. How so? You will never be able to speak wisely without learning to listen carefully. Do you know why that is? No, I don’t think so. Maybe I do, but I’m not sure. Take a guess. Not listening is a sure sign of pride. Not listening conveys the attitude that I have much to offer and no need to receive. It is the attitude of a “know it all”. A poor listener cuts themselves off from learning from others. A poor listener will never have the benefit of other’s insight. A poor listener will live forever with their blind spots that they can’t see by themselves. Why is that? It is easy to recognize a poor listener. A poor listener sends out signals that shout, “Don’t bother with me, because I won’t listen to you.” I don’t want to be that person. That’s good. 

How will you become a good listener? Where you will start? What will you do? I will start with you. It is the desire of my heart to hear from you. I want to listen to every word that you have to say to me. There is no one I want to hear from more than you. That’s good. So, I will withdraw from the noise and busyness of life. I will go to a quiet place. I will slow down and make myself attentive to you. I will separate myself from the swirl of activity all around me. Why will that be necessary? I am hard of hearing. Listening to you does not come naturally to me. No, it does not. Quieting myself before you will take all the strength that you will give to me. Why is that? Activity and busyness is my norm. Racing here and there and everywhere is my strength. It’s not really a strength. I know. It’s a huge weakness. But there is one thing I know for certain. What’s that? You will speak to me as I meet with you. You will speak to me as I meet with you in your word, and in prayer, and in worship. Yes, I will. 

What will happen to you as you listen attentively to me? You will give me wise words to speak as I listen attentively to you. Yes, I will.  What else? You will strengthen and develop my ability to listen to others as I keep on listening to you. Yes, I will. What else? As I listen to others, I will be more able to minister to them. You will give me wise and caring and loving words to speak that will bring life and healing to others. Yes, I will. Keep on listening to me. Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good. 

Lord, I know I have pridefully spoken quickly without listening carefully. I have often spoken unhelpful and unhealthy words I have deeply regretted. Help me to listen attentively to you. Help me to speak wise words that will build up and encourage others. Amen

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

Becoming Like Christ – Day 257 – Proverbs 18-13 – Answers Before Listening – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                   Copying not permitted                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

Answers Before Listening

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Wisdom - Proverbs 18:13 - Answers Before Listening - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Wisdom – Proverbs 18:13 – Answers Before Listening – Growing As Disciples

He who answers before listening– that is his folly and his shame. Proverbs 18:13 (NIV) 

Listening Well

Listening well, that is not my strong suit. Why is that? I think you know why. Yes, I know why. But, do you know why? Yes, I know why. But, it’s hard to admit. What’s hard to admit? It’s hard to admit that I am proud. How so? Somewhere, down deep inside me I have this feeling that I don’t need to listen. I have the false belief that I already know the answer. I have this assumption that I have all I need. I know it all. I am always right. I cannot gain anything by listening to someone else. Do you really believe that? Looking at those words, I can’t believe that even a part of me believes them. It is so proud. It is so foolish. It is simply idiotic. Yes, it is. But, what would explain my caring far more about what I might say next than to what someone might have to say to me. This is not a small problem. This is not a minor flaw. This is a big deal. This is a dangerous mindset. How so? Why is that?

If you can’t listen well to others how well do you suppose you can listen to me? Before you answer, think about what I have said to you. You are telling me that how well I listen to others will help me gauge how well I listen to you. Yes, I am. Why do you suppose that is? Whatever hinders my ability to listen to others will also hinder my ability to listen to you. That’s right. What else? I’m not sure. What else is there? How often have I tried to speak to you through the voice of others? Oh, I see. I get it. Do you? Well, I should I say that I understand your question. I have often failed to listen to what you were saying to me through the voice of others. How so? You have tried to give me warnings through the voice of others that I have failed to heed. You have tried to give me direction through the voice of others that I have failed to follow. You have tried to give me wisdom and knowledge and understanding through the voice of others that I have failed to receive. Yes, you have missed my voice as I have tried to speak to you. You have not listened well.  

Do you want to change? Do you want to become a listener? Yes, I do want to change. Yes, I will become a listener. Why is that? I want to know your will and walk in your ways. I want to do what is pleasing in your sight. I want to live the life that you have called me to live. So, you will listen attentively to me? You will make it a habit to be listening well? Yes, I will. Here I am now, listening to you. Yes, you are. That is very good.

Lord, I have not listened well. I have not payed attention to your voice speaking to me. I have not met with you in your word to hear what you have to say to me. I have been more interested in speaking than listening. No more, I will listen attentively to you. Amen

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

Wisdom – Proverbs 18-13 – Answers Before Listening – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                   Copying not permitted                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com