Seeking to Understand Will Make You Find Good Things

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Daily Reading: Joshua 3-5 GW; Proverbs 19 GW

Gain understanding, gain insight.

In today’s world, people force their plans more than they listen.  Instead of taking time to understand what the other person is saying, they assume they already know.  We all think we know what other people are thinking, but we don’t.  God is the only one who knows people’s thoughts; we’re not God.

Stop assuming; seek understanding.

To understand someone else’s point of view, you have to listen to them.  Instead of talking, give others the floor.  Ask questions that will provide you with answers.  Not close-ended questions, those require one-word responses: yes, no, maybe.  Use open-ended questions to get a more in-depth response:

  • Why did you make that decision?
  • What was the purpose of that action?
  • How would you describe your experience in that situation?
  • Describe what you were feeling at that moment?
  • Tell me more about your history?

Open-ended questions begin with these words: why, what, how, describe, tell me.  They require the person to give thought to their answers.  And they need you to listen.

Jesus questioned.

Jesus was the Master of questioning.  He asked over 300 questions in the Gospels. Even though He already knew the answers, His questions help us grow.

Jesus’s questions help us transform.  We become more aware of the condition of our hearts when we answer His questions.  Jesus helps us understand our thought processes with the inquiries He makes.  

As we become more like Jesus, we’ll ask more questions.  Our inquiries will help reveal people’s hearts.  The more we understand, the better we can love. Good things come to those who ask the right questions.

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Lord, how much we love You.  Thank You for helping us understand our hearts better with the questions Jesus asks.  Forgive us for forcing our agenda on others.  Help us today to ask more questions and truly listen to the responses.  As we gain understanding about ourselves and others, help us love better.  Let us put aside our assumptions, remind us we don’t know what other people are thinking.  If we don’t seek to understand, we never will.  Help us gain clarity today instead of forcing our agenda.  IJNIP. Amen

Question for reflection

Who do you need to seek to understand today?

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