James 1:9Everyone should be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to become angry.

James 8:43 Why is my language not clear to you?

Why are you unable to hear what someone is saying? Wrong desires? Don't want truth? When someone feels that you really understand what they are saying, you can speak into their lives. Distractions make someone feel that you are not interested in them. Undivided attention is valuable. If you are not really interested in what someone is saying, you jump to conclusions, speak too quickly, and it often results in anger. Determine to keep your mouth shut until others are finished talking.

Winning friends requires continual "wooing." Hearing the right way has to do with belonging to God. If you are unable to hear, you don't care more for the other person than yourself. When you are "wooing" a friend, you do care & you want to please that person.

If you are the highest thing in your life, you become a murderer - one who takes life instead of giving it. A life-giver wants true truth. If you don't care what the other person is really saying, you are unable to hear. Proverbs 25.

4/10/94 Attention is the coin of love. James 8:42-44 Can also mean that you can not really hear people if you do not belong to God. You must have Love to be able to hear. Ways to increase listening power: Friendly focus. God is unlimited attention.

1. Eye contact.

2. Body language.

3. Wooing the enemy is commitment of love. Try to feel their emotions. When we feel someone's pain we enter priestly role. 4. No interruptions except for verbal encouragement & questions (not many). Possibly take notes.

5. Listen for understanding not rebuttal.

6. Learn to ask questions for understanding. Proverbs 20: Questions will also bring understanding to the person being questioned. Be their advocate. Help them to state their position. Let the other person win the argument when you can. The relationship is more important than winning.

7. Compensate for the inclination to disagree.

8. Repeat what you have heard.