Instead of Waiting to Speak...

Take time to listen before waiting to speak… 

Have you ever caught yourself on “auto-pilot” in a conversation? 

For me, it usually happens during a familiar conversation or recurring situation. 

My mind tells me the answer before the other person even asks or finishes! 

Now maybe it’s different for you, but I catch myself going into an auto-pilot mode when I start deciding what must be done even before I have really listened and or HEARD what the other person is trying to say. 

OK, so this is part of the standard fare for raising kids under 5 when it comes to junk food and unsafe toys, we DO know the answers before they form the question, 

but this type of listening hurts us in all other aspects of our lives. 

Think about it. 

We like to be listened to, heard, and feel that we have been understood. 

 It’s a spiritual principle that we need to treat others in the same way that we wish to be treated. 

So maybe this is the 3rd time Aunt Mabel has told you the story about her trip to the grocery with the wrong coupons. 

Perhaps by actively listening to her and building conversation around her story, she may finally feel heard and stop telling you the same story. 

How do you listen?

Does the solution noise in your head drown out what the other person is trying to say? … 

Check your own experience and…

Take time to listen instead of waiting to speak. 

“We never gave the spiritual side of life a fair hearing.” Big Book pg. 50

Lord, let us listen with our hearts and hear with You Holy Spirit that resides in us all, AMEN. 

 "To answer before listening-- that is folly and shame. Proverbs 18:13 

 Have a blessed day Y’all! 

Join me in looking at the things we face daily with passages from both the Big Book and Bible!

https://www.amazon.com/author/mfarley     

What's Your Motive?

What’s your motive?... 

This was given to me years ago as I was learning how to pray and I still use it to this very day. 

The suggestion is to pray to WANT what I GET and not to GET what I WANT. 

I can’t tell you how many times over the years I have become confused and have prayed 

TELLING God about a desired specific outcome with great detail, based on my thoughts, emotions, and motives on getting that specific result 

instead of becoming open and willing to learn God’s will for me and the lesson I need to learn for the situation causing me to pray. 

When I pray for understanding and wisdom, things go well. 

When I pray for specific things focusing only on how those things will make me feel, well,… 

I am still waiting…

Think about that for a moment and please… check your experience… 

“…praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.” Big Book pg 59 

Lord, let us pray to understand Your will for us in the requests we make instead of demanding our own way, AMEN. 

“When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.” James 4:3 

Have a blessed day Y'all! 

Join me in looking at the things we face daily with passages from both the Big Book and Bible! 

https://www.amazon.com/author/mfarley              

Wherever Your Heart Is

"For wherever your treasure is, there will be your heart also." Luke 12:34 

I enjoy this verse because it brings me instant perspective along with a truthful reminder to watch my motives and efforts. 

When I am struggling, frustrated, stressed, and just plain mad, reflecting on this verse gives me the path I need to take to find happiness and let go of whatever it is that is causing these negative emotions and feelings inside of me. 

Do I WANT to look at myself at times like this? 

Heck no! 

I like to sit in anger and resentment and focus on the wrongs that I perceive being done to me! 

I have learned that I must look in order to restore order to my mind and peace to my soul. 

I look at my motives first. I ask myself what I am trying to gain, get, or avoid through my actions, attitudes, desires, and behaviors. 

I next look at my efforts. 

Am I sitting in the negativity of the situation? 

Am I refusing to see the other side? 

Am I willing to accept this person, place, thing, or situation exactly as it is for this moment and refocus my mind toward the positive attitude I need to move on? 

This is when I learn first-hand where my “treasure” is. 

When I look at my motives and efforts, I can see where my heart is! 

“As we felt new power flow in, as we enjoyed peace of mind, as we discovered we could face life successfully, as we became conscious of His presence, we began to lose our fear of today, tomorrow or the hereafter.” Big Book pg 63 

Lord let us fill our hearts with the treasures of Your Truth, Grace, and Love, AMEN. 

"For wherever your treasure is, there will be your heart also." Luke 12:34 

 Have a blessed day Y’all! 

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