📖 "So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath."
James 1:19
There’s a difference between hearing and truly listening. The infographic on the 5 Levels of Listening reminded me how often I linger in the shallower waters — waiting to talk, or distracted, only half-present. My lips may be closed, but my mind is rehearsing what to say next.
Listening is more than a skill — it’s a posture of love. True listening is how we open the door of our heart and say, “You matter. I see you. I hear you.”
The Hebrew word for “hear” is shema — it carries a depth beyond sound. It means to listen with the intent to understand and to respond. This is the kind of listening God calls us to: not distracted ears, but attuned hearts.
The infographic I reflected on reminds me of a ladder of presence:
Waiting to Talk (Self-focused). Silence without surrender.
Hearing the Words (Distracted). Present in body, absent in heart.
Understanding the Message (Focused). Choosing to honour the meaning.
Recognising Emotions (Empathetic). Valuing not just words but hearts.
Hearing What’s Unsaid (Fully Present). Entering the sacred space where the Holy Spirit often whispers between the lines.
Jesus Himself listened deeply. He noticed the bleeding woman’s touch, heard Bartimaeus’ cry above the crowd, and discerned the unspoken doubts of His disciples. His listening was never hurried, never half-hearted — always filled with compassion and truth.
When we practise this kind of listening, we embody love. We echo Christ’s invitation:
📖“Come to Me… I will give you rest” — Matthew 11:28 (NKJV).
When I choose to listen like this, I move closer to the image of Christ. Jesus listened deeply to those around Him. He heard the cries beneath the words — the blind calling out on the roadside, the bleeding woman pressing through the crowd, the unspoken ache of a rich young ruler. His listening was never hurried; it was spacious, healing, and infused with compassion.True listening is an act of love. It says: You matter. Your story matters. I see you. It invites us into empathy and even beyond — into discerning what is unspoken, what the soul longs to say but cannot find words for.
🖼️ How this Painting Completes the Devotion:
Harbour of Tranquillity's calm waters and luminous light echo the peace that flows when we listen with the heart. Just as a harbour shelters ships from crashing waves, so deep listening becomes a safe refuge for weary souls.
Reflection:
Which level of listening do I most often find myself in when others speak? 🤔
How does the idea of shema — listening with intent to respond — change how I hear God and people? 🤔
Who in my life most needs me to hear what they’re not saying right now? 🤔
Life Application:
Today, choose one conversation to practise Level 5 listening — pause your own thoughts, slow down, and lean in with love. Let the Holy Spirit guide you to what is said… and what is left unsaid.
Affirmation:
I am learning to listen with my whole heart — not to fix, not to reply, but to honour. My ears are open, my heart is present, and my love is alive.
Creative Prompt:
Sketch two ears: one cluttered with noise, the other surrounded by golden light. Write or paint inside the golden one the words that matter most when you feel fully heard.
Closing Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank You for always hearing me, even when my words falter. Teach me to listen like You — with patience, compassion, and discernment. Help me to hear not only the words but the hearts of those around me, and to create safe spaces for their unspoken cries. May my listening become an act of love that points others back to You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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