Pre-Communication
Scripture Reading - James 1:19 ERV (Easy-to-Read Version)
My dear brothers and sisters, always be more willing to listen than to speak. Keep control of your anger.
To be a good and effective communicator we should be good “listeners” as well. If we are always talking and never “listening” to what is being said to us our understanding will be lopsided (skewed) and we won't be effective in communicating the correct response. We should not be rash with our mouth every word needs to be measured for accuracy and effectiveness. We (ihlcc) have often tried to solve a problem through the answers given in the Word of God (The Holy Bible) but found out it is not that easy. Why, you may ask? Sometimes it has to do with “good listening”. We will explain, “If the person is not looking for a scripture to answer their problem, giving them a verse or two will not help them”. We have also found out that many people are not asking you a question about their predicament at all, they are simply making statements about their circumstances. How will you know the difference of when to speak and when not to? The first practice should be to “listen” carefully to what they are saying and listen carefully to what the Lord is speaking to your heart inwardly. Did they ask for prayer? Did they specifically say, “Can you help me?” Were they looking for your counsel or did they only want your sympathy? These questions and more can only be answered with “good listening skills”. “Listening” has a dual purpose because “listening” properly to the Spirit of God on the inside always proceeds “good listening” to man on the outside. This is why the scripture states, “always be more willing to listen than to speak” because how would you know what to answer until you clearly understand the question, if there is one. We (ihlcc) now listen for specific key words that open a door for our response but many times those key words don’t come up in the conversation at all (no, not once). Our experience has taught us two things 1) many people only want you to do what they think you should do and secondarily 2) they want you to hear their side of the situation without cross examination from the Light of God’s Word. Yes, we love people and we always want to help our fellow man, especially God’s Children but we can of our own selves do nothing. Yes, “listening” is the key to counseling others just as much as it is the key to all communication. So “listen” first to any person who is speaking to you and if you can withhold verbal communication until you understand if their words require a response you would be wise. If we need to respond let us purpose to let “our yay be yay (yes) ” and “our nay be nay (no)” without words of indecision or idleness. Thus, keeping “concise communication” will make it easier for “listening” to the next group (package, organization, team) of words. This “pre-communication” before God and man is very necessary and it will keep you from putting your foot in your mouth (saying the wrong thing and the wrong time). Since we are always communicating something by our bodily actions and facial expressions we should highly esteem the wisdom of “pre-communication” to line up our words to correctly respond to the multitude of words we hear every day. If we put Jesus first in our “pre-communication of listening” what we say (speak) will be ordained of God to the glory of God the Father in person of Jesus Christ, whom we represent in this world looking unto the world to come. Amen!
Listening + Godly Perception = The Proper Response, if a response is required!