Listening to the Holy Spirit:
On earth pleasure reigns and profit is gain. In the Kingdom – righteousness by the blood of the Lamb, and obedience to the ways of God are true pleasure and eternal gain. Listen carefully to the heart of your God, and to the needing hearts of those around you. Anger and impatience are not the ways of the Spirit that dwells within you. The mouth overflows from the heart. Their speech (those around you in the workplace) is their heart’s speech, and cry. Your speech is from your heart as well. Those in the workplace carry loads far greater than that of the workplace alone. Listen carefully, search their eyes and see the child that I see. Be slow to speak, listening first carefully by My Spirit. Be gentle in response, for in gentleness and calm spirit, reflecting My love for them, in this is the greater profit.
Luke 6:45b (ESV) – … for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
Prv 18:13 (ESV) – If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame.
James 1:19 (ESV) – Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
Taking It to Work:
Some of us are carrying quite a load in the workplace. Many of us just have too much work to do, pressing deadlines, and very difficult responsibilities. Others of us have financial or technical issues that need more attention than we can afford to give them. Add to that personnel issues, unexpected delays, irate customers and material shortages…and the workplace can bring out the worst in us sometimes.
What’s that look like? Irritability, impatience, brain fog, not truly listening to those we are working with, and unfortunately, speaking our mind all too quickly. All of these behaviors, even if displayed only for a short time, which can push others away, diminish our Christian reputation, worst of all, destroy our long-term influence. This can be especially true if the whole team is struggling under that same stress, and their speech and listening skills are also degrading.
Our devotion today is a reminder that much of our influence in the workplace comes how we carry ourselves and care for others in the midst of workplace pressure. Much of that care is shown in what we say and how well we maintain our listening skills. Listening to not only to the words that they are saying, but the state of heart they are conveying.
If you listen with empathy, and sometimes that takes the help of the Holy Spirit, you may discern that their struggle goes beyond the workplace. Often personal struggles are at the root of workplace behavior, especially when workplace demands are at the highest.
Remember the eternal part of your job. The Lord has put you there to be His influence on them, and you don’t know how that might happen. It may be your listening ear, a gentle, understanding word, or just your company and a well-placed, silent prayer that they need more than anything.
Slow down, listen to hear their heart, and His heart for them, as His Word works silently through you, today.
