Thursday Devotion

Be Still and Listen

By Deborah Schoenfelder

 

Then a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My Son, My Chosen One; listen to Him!” Luke 9:35

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God. . .” Psalm 46:10

 

“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.”  Revelation 3:20

 

 

Have you ever thought about how well you listen when someone else is speaking? Are you listening intently, giving the person adequate time to talk, without interrupting or finishing that person’s sentences? Listening is a skill that comes easily for some people and not so much for others. It is a skill I taught nursing students for many years, having them practice in a lab setting before they had contact with patients and families. So I’m a firm believer that listening can be learned and improved with practice and self-confidence.

 

Listening with your full attention is called active listening. Appearing rushed and only listening half-heartedly is definitely not active listening (know that feeling when someone asks you a question and then is backing out the door while you are responding?). On the other hand, when persons feel fully listened to, they feel cared for and even special. Attending to another with your whole being is a priceless gift.

 

Listening is not only important in our relationships, it is also an essential part of prayer. It’s easy to get caught up in or intimidated by the “right words” to say when praying (try just saying what’s in your heart-simple is the way to go). And worrying about what to say can distract us from listening when we pray. For me, remaining silent before I speak and then again after I say “Amen” helps me sharpen my listening during prayer. The hymn “Be Still, My Soul” talks about “being still” which I think can in turn help me listen more fully:

 

“Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side. Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain. Leave to thy God to order and provide; In every change, He faithful will remain. Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly Friend Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.”

(Words by Katharina von Schlegel; music by Jean Sibelius)

 

Another song I am particularly drawn to is the contemporary Christian piece “I Lift My Hands” by Chris Tomlin which attests to how important it is to make being still and listening a regular part of prayer. I am moved by how, just before any words are sung, Tomlin takes in a deep audible breath and then sings the words “Be still, there is a healer . . .” Similarly, singer Jonny Diaz in “Breathe” suggests these actions in the song’s refrain:

 

“Just breathe

Just breathe

Come and rest at my feet.

And be

Just be

Chaos calls

But all you really need

Is to just breathe.”

 

Perhaps we need to take a breath more often in life, pause before continuing on with whatever we are going to do, say, or pray. What happens when I draw breath and remain still? It might help me stay on task, more accurately and kindly talk to others, or pray in a way that I find especially meaningful and comforting. Be still and listen seems like an act that can begin and end prayer. It is prayer.

 

Prayer: Gracious God who attends to every prayer, I know my listening skills need work. When in prayer, I promise to be still and listen as much if not more than I speak. Thank you for your constant companionship as I journey through this life. With all my love—AMEN.