Listening and discouragement
Isaiah 50:4-9a; James 3:1-12; Psalm 116:1-8;Mark 8:27-38
Listening . This is one fact of what our Scriptures are about today. “ Listening is one of the best gifts one human can give another. It requires our full attention. It calls for a mind-set of appreciation, curiosity and wonder for the other person. We can’t be thinking about what we are going to say in response, or how we would handle the situation , or what’s going on at work or at home. We must let go of our own agenda for the moment, which is not an easy thing to do.” From Practicing the Sacred Art of Listening by Lindhal.
When Jesus asked the disciples “ Whom do men say that I am?” The responses were basically “ one of the prophets”. They were disappointing. Peter did get it right of course. But then he reversed himself when Jesus told the disciples about the His coming sacrifice and resurrection. In fact “ Peter took him, and began to rebuke him.” 8:32 Mark
This got me thinking to how we deal with disappointment and frustrated dreams. We plan, we work, and then our best efforts seem to be fruitless. What did our Lord do? He looked to a higher power if I can put it that way. “ He rebuked Peter, saying, ‘ Get thee behind me Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.’ “ Of course we are not going to say that to people we disagree with. But the point is not everyone listens to God, do they?
Jesus as the Son of Man could have been discouraged, and I imagine for a moment when Peter said what he said, he was. Yes, in his human nature he was for a moment I think disheartened. Peter got it somewhat but he missed the big picture. Listen. Slow down. Hear God. Peter did not hear God nor did the others either for that matter. “ Sometimes it’s hard for us to find the signal. What can we do about all the things that keep us from being fully present..? It’s relatively easy to discern the external distractions: noise, the telephone, e mail, dogs barking, children playing. Some distractions can be turned off…..the internal distractions---the worries, the tasks to do, or emotions….Once we do , we can put the thoughts aside and listen for God’s signal. Be quiet, be still, listen….” (from Sacred Art of Listening by Lindhahl)
“ Savor the things of God” Jesus says. I came across an article that has been quite helpful called, “ Remedies for discouragement” by Rev. Maurice Roberts , minister of Free Church of Scotland in Ayr. He tells of a young minister who was called from a country congregation in Scotland to a “ depressing area in Edinburgh. The young man felt a tremendous blanket of darkness coming over him as he viewed the dreadful tenenments and the squalor of their inhabitants. Just then he felt the grip of a hand on his shoulder. He turned around to see the great Dr Thomas Chalmers who was there to encourage him in some such words as ,’ A capital charge, young man, a capital charge, an excellent place to begin.’ It is so much a matter of how we look at the situation. The problem is not ‘out there’ but in our own attitudes. “
Isaiah said it this way, “ The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary” . I imagine a good listener is one who knows this Messianic passage for it goes on to tell about the one who was following God “was not rebellious, neither turned away back. I gave my back to the smiters….I hid not my face from shame and spitting…” Isaiah 50:5 We are called as was Jesus to listen to God first before we speak. When the waves of doubt, and negativity overwhelm us we should do some things differently. The Apostle Paul says “ for our light affliction which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:17
I wanted to enter a little bit into that frame of mind that Jesus had as He was with His disciples . Surely He had many ways to experience sorrow and be downcast when they were not getting what He was trying to accomplish. He had to spell it out for them, “ Whosoever will come after me , let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” 8:34
“ We are so busy running around doing things. …There is a wonderful story about Mother Teresa , who was asked what she did when she prayed to God. “ Oh,” she said, “ that’s easy. I listen.” And then what does God do? “ Oh”, she replied, “ God listens.” ( from Sacred Art of Listening) Listen to God. Listen to each other. Then speak. We will be encouraged if we live this way instead of the way we have been living which is fruitless without God’s direction in our moments.
If we cannot do that, then look at Jesus. He entered into the most sorrowful place of all and yet followed the will of God. He is our example in our lives when we should listen and do not and He is our example when we are discouraged and should look to God for encouragement.
For Quiet Confidence
O God of peace, who has taught us that in returning and rest we will be saved, in quietness and confidence will be our strength: By the might of your Spirit lift us, we pray, to your presence, where we may be still and know that you are God; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Listening . This is one fact of what our Scriptures are about today. “ Listening is one of the best gifts one human can give another. It requires our full attention. It calls for a mind-set of appreciation, curiosity and wonder for the other person. We can’t be thinking about what we are going to say in response, or how we would handle the situation , or what’s going on at work or at home. We must let go of our own agenda for the moment, which is not an easy thing to do.” From Practicing the Sacred Art of Listening by Lindhal.
When Jesus asked the disciples “ Whom do men say that I am?” The responses were basically “ one of the prophets”. They were disappointing. Peter did get it right of course. But then he reversed himself when Jesus told the disciples about the His coming sacrifice and resurrection. In fact “ Peter took him, and began to rebuke him.” 8:32 Mark
This got me thinking to how we deal with disappointment and frustrated dreams. We plan, we work, and then our best efforts seem to be fruitless. What did our Lord do? He looked to a higher power if I can put it that way. “ He rebuked Peter, saying, ‘ Get thee behind me Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.’ “ Of course we are not going to say that to people we disagree with. But the point is not everyone listens to God, do they?
Jesus as the Son of Man could have been discouraged, and I imagine for a moment when Peter said what he said, he was. Yes, in his human nature he was for a moment I think disheartened. Peter got it somewhat but he missed the big picture. Listen. Slow down. Hear God. Peter did not hear God nor did the others either for that matter. “ Sometimes it’s hard for us to find the signal. What can we do about all the things that keep us from being fully present..? It’s relatively easy to discern the external distractions: noise, the telephone, e mail, dogs barking, children playing. Some distractions can be turned off…..the internal distractions---the worries, the tasks to do, or emotions….Once we do , we can put the thoughts aside and listen for God’s signal. Be quiet, be still, listen….” (from Sacred Art of Listening by Lindhahl)
“ Savor the things of God” Jesus says. I came across an article that has been quite helpful called, “ Remedies for discouragement” by Rev. Maurice Roberts , minister of Free Church of Scotland in Ayr. He tells of a young minister who was called from a country congregation in Scotland to a “ depressing area in Edinburgh. The young man felt a tremendous blanket of darkness coming over him as he viewed the dreadful tenenments and the squalor of their inhabitants. Just then he felt the grip of a hand on his shoulder. He turned around to see the great Dr Thomas Chalmers who was there to encourage him in some such words as ,’ A capital charge, young man, a capital charge, an excellent place to begin.’ It is so much a matter of how we look at the situation. The problem is not ‘out there’ but in our own attitudes. “
Isaiah said it this way, “ The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary” . I imagine a good listener is one who knows this Messianic passage for it goes on to tell about the one who was following God “was not rebellious, neither turned away back. I gave my back to the smiters….I hid not my face from shame and spitting…” Isaiah 50:5 We are called as was Jesus to listen to God first before we speak. When the waves of doubt, and negativity overwhelm us we should do some things differently. The Apostle Paul says “ for our light affliction which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:17
I wanted to enter a little bit into that frame of mind that Jesus had as He was with His disciples . Surely He had many ways to experience sorrow and be downcast when they were not getting what He was trying to accomplish. He had to spell it out for them, “ Whosoever will come after me , let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” 8:34
“ We are so busy running around doing things. …There is a wonderful story about Mother Teresa , who was asked what she did when she prayed to God. “ Oh,” she said, “ that’s easy. I listen.” And then what does God do? “ Oh”, she replied, “ God listens.” ( from Sacred Art of Listening) Listen to God. Listen to each other. Then speak. We will be encouraged if we live this way instead of the way we have been living which is fruitless without God’s direction in our moments.
If we cannot do that, then look at Jesus. He entered into the most sorrowful place of all and yet followed the will of God. He is our example in our lives when we should listen and do not and He is our example when we are discouraged and should look to God for encouragement.
For Quiet Confidence
O God of peace, who has taught us that in returning and rest we will be saved, in quietness and confidence will be our strength: By the might of your Spirit lift us, we pray, to your presence, where we may be still and know that you are God; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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