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

“The first service that one owes to others in the fellowship consists in listening to them. Just as love to God begins with listening to His Word, so the beginning of love for the brethren is learning to listen to them. It is God’s love for us that He not only gives us His Word but also lends us His ear.

So it is His work that we do for our brother when we learn to listen to him. Christians, especially ministers, so often think they must always contribute something when they are in the company of others, that this is the one service they have to render. They forget that listening can be a greater service than speaking.

Many people are looking for an ear that will listen. They do not find it among Christians, because these Christians are talking where they should be listening. But he who can no longer listen to his brother will soon be no longer listening to God either; he will be doing nothing but prattle in the presence of God too.

This is the beginning of the death of the spiritual life, and in the end there is nothing left but spiritual chatter and clerical condescension arrayed in pious words. One who cannot listen long and patiently will presently be talking beside the point and be never really speaking to others, albeit he be not conscious of it. Anyone who thinks that his time is too valuable to spend keeping quiet will eventually have no time for God and his brother, but only for himself and for his own follies.”

Dietrich Bonhoeffer “Life Together”

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.