The heart. It’s one of the most talked-about components of the Bible. Entire modern day books have been written about it. The Bible has instructions for it and in Proverbs 4:23 (NIV) it says, “Above all else guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” If everything we do flows from the heart, how can we guard it so what flows out of it is honoring to God?
By listening with our heart.
When we listen to God with our heart, we are allowing Him to guide our steps. When we listen to those around us with our heart, we honor God by taking care of His children, whom He dearly loves. I would even venture to say our heart is how God views us.
So how does God view our heart? I’m so glad you asked. Also in Proverbs 27:19, (NIV) its says, “As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart.” The heart is a reflection of our true selves. There is no hiding our hearts from God or what motivates us. Are we listening with our hearts to get something from another person? Or are we listening to God with our hearts to impress someone else? In both of these instances this is not authentically listening with our hearts. I believe God sees this. He wants us to reach each other at the heart level.
How can we listen with our hearts? Here are three ways.
- Take time. This means taking the time and creating space to hear the other person. Turn off our phones, tablets, and other electronic devices to eliminate any possible distraction to hearing what the other person has to say. We need to make space to truly hear what the other person is saying. Every person wants to be heard at the heart level.
- Speak words of kindness. When we hear what the other person is saying, we need to communicate with kindness. The other person may need correction to what they’re sharing, but we can do this with kindness and without judgment. In Proverbs 27:17 (NIV) it says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” Speaking correction can be done with gentleness as we listen with our heart. We can speak the correction in a way that lifts the other person up, rather than tears them down, but this also takes time which is why step number one is so important. The third way we can listen with our heart is with forgiveness.
- Forgiveness. When we truly listen to someone else’s heart, it isn’t always good. They could be lashing out at us in pain and saying things not really intended for us, but we are the closest person in the line of fire. It takes a level of forgiveness and understanding to let what that person says or does roll off our back. We need to forgive them in their time of pain and realize they aren’t lashing out at us, but at something outside of themselves. If we are at fault, then we need to seek their forgiveness and repair the relationship, if possible, and turn it over to God work on the other person’s heart. The critical thing to know is healing begins with forgiveness.
How do you listen with your heart? Share in the comments below to encourage others.