It's often tough to get people to listen. Hey, I know, I have a tendency not to listen either. I have a saying that I use to describe what a lot of us do: "I heard you but I wasn't listening." Hearing is simply perceiving or detecting sound; listening, on the other hand, is consciously choosing to focus on the sound. I think a lot of us hear but we often fail to listen.
I know I could have avoided a few challenges and obstacles in my life if I had been more diligent to listen. There have been times that someone has told me one thing or another and I heard the sound of a voice but I didn't focus on, I didn't listen to the advice. I have gotten better at listening as I have matured, as I hope most of us have.
Today's word is Proverbs 19:20, ESV, which reads, "Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future."
If we would only listen to advice and accept what others are trying to teach us, we might could save ourselves some hassle, some trouble, some problems, some heartache, some disappointment, some physical hurt. This verse tells us that we not only need to listen but we also need to heed, to accept, the instruction/advice. It doesn't do a lot of good to read the directions, if we aren't going to follow them.
However, if we will listen and accept instruction, we will gain wisdom, not only for the present circumstance but for future instances. It is possible that if we would listen today, we might could prevent something occurring later. If we apply the advice and instruction we are given, we may just be wise enough to avoid a problem today and prevent a mistake later. BUT, it all begins when we listen.
Be Blessed,
Mickey T
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