At the Vineyard Midwest pastor’s conference this week, Lance Pittluck from the Anaheim, California, Vineyard said he feels the Lord is calling the Vineyard to prayer. He gave a strong challenge to the 200 pastors and leaders to spend time really listening to God in the weeks and months ahead.
Maybe we all need bigger ears like this goat in the picture. Or perhaps we merely need to have a focused heart. I’m sure that part of hearing God is tied to our willingness to really hear others.
Are you a good listener? Here’s John Piper on the folly and shame of answering before we really hear…
Proverbs says it is our “folly” to answer before we hear. That is, it will make us a fool. One reason for this is that almost all premature answers are based on thinking we know all we need to know. But that is “foolish.” Our attitude should be: What can I learn from this question? The fool thinks he knows all he needs to know.
Proverbs 18:13 says that it is our “shame” to answer before we hear. What if you are asked publicly, “My wife and I have had serious problems and we were wondering . . .” and you cut the questioner off by giving your answer about the value of counseling and what counselors might be helpful. But then they say, “Well, actually, what I was going to say was, “My wife and I have had serious problems and we were wondering, now that our counseling is over and things are better than ever, how you would suggest that we celebrate?” Then you will be shamed for not listening.
