Listen until they feel heard.

You haven't fully listened until

who you are listening to

feels that they have been heard.

Welcome to The 7 Essentials for Caring That Makes a Difference, Devotional Series.

This week’s devotional invites you to slow down, reflect deeply, and listen carefully—both with God and with those He places in your path.

Each day offers:

New content to guide your thoughts for the week.
Content to reread everyday throughout the week, helping you soak truth so it moves your mind into to your heart and soul.
Moments for stillness where you can escape the noise of hurry of life and prepare to encounter God in new ways.

Begin each session by taking a few deep breaths.
Set aside distractions, quiet your spirit, and open yourself to God’s presence.
Then, read, the reflect, and the pray—letting each part shape your heart of compassion.

This rhythm of reading, rereading, and reflection will help the lessons of caring not only be learned but lived.

The Fourth Essential: EXTREME LISTENING

AN INVITATION TO DAILY WORSHIP

“Ask God to reveal Himself to you this week in His form or way. Promise Him that you will not ask Him to speak to you in any certain images; but that you want to be open to all of His entreaties to you. Ask Him to show you that these experiences of today are part of His process for your life.”

Disciplines of the Inner Life, Benson and Benson, p. 151

DAILY SCRIPTURES

A Psalm for every day.

Psalm 34

Daily Readings

Monday Hebrews 7:25

Tuesday Psalm 116:1,2

Wednesday Romans 8:26, 27

Thursday Proverbs 18:15

Friday James 1:19

Saturday John 10:27

Sunday Romans 8:34

PERSONAL REFLECTION

“He is the one who can tell us the reason for our existence, our place in the scheme of things, our real identity… But it is a secret he will entrust to us only when we ask and then in his own way and his own time. He will whisper it to us not in the mad rush and fever of our striving and our fierce determination to be someone but rather when we are content to rest in Him, to put ourselves into His keeping, in His hands. Most delightfully of all, it is a secret He will tell us slowly and sweetly when we are willing to spend time with Him: time with Him who is beyond all time.”

From Clinging – The Experience of Prayer by Emilie Griffin

As found in Disciplines of the Inner Life, Benson and Benson, p. 25

PRAYER FOR THE WEEK

“O God, God, my Father, I have no words, which I dare express the things that stir within me. I lay bare myself, my world, before you in the quietness. Brood over my spirit with your great tenderness and understanding and judgment, so that I will find, in some strange new way, strength for my weakness, health for my illness, guidance for my journey. This is the stirring of my heart, O God, my Father. Amen.”

Howard Thurman in The Growing Edge

As found in Disciplines of the Inner Life, Benson and Benson, p. 73

HYMN OF THE WEEK

1 Abide with me: fast falls the eventide;
the darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide.
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.

2 Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day;
earth's joys grow dim, its glories pass away.
Change and decay in all around I see.
O thou who changest not, abide with me.

3 I need thy presence every passing hour.
What but thy grace can foil the tempter's power?
Who like thyself my guide and strength can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, O abide with me.

4 I fear no foe with thee at hand to bless,
ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness.
Where is death's sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if thou abide with me.

5 Hold thou thy cross before my closing eyes.
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies.
Heaven's morning breaks and earth's vain shadows flee;
in life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.

BLESSING CALL TO ACTION

Having experienced the importance and impact of God’s listening to you, let it be an example for you to listen to others.

WHAT IS GOD SHOWING YOU THIS WEEK?

Writing your experience will reinforce your learning and it will encourage someone else to care a little more deeply today. We can do this together.