The Power of Listening

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Town hall meetings were getting tense. People talking past each other. Nobody really listening. So a group of officers in Hawthorne, California, tried something almost too simple. Skipped a podium, go to a diner, buy coffee, and just listen. No speeches, no agenda, just conversation at a table. Would anyone show up? And if they did, would it actually change anything?

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Welcome to Daily Devotions for Busy Lives. I'm Bart Leger, and today we're going to talk about something that feels in short supply. Listening. In a world where everyone wants to be heard, the Bible calls us to be quick to listen and slow to speak.

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James 1, verse 19 says, quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. That little experiment in 2011 became Coffee with a Cop, a listening-first meetup designed to build trust one cup at a time. Departments adopt it because a relaxed table beats a tense microphone. The founders say the goal is simple.

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Create space where officers and neighbors can talk like people, not problems.

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As a matter of fact, our local department that I retired from takes part in it every year. The idea spread nationwide and abroad, and there's now a national Coffee with a Cop every first Wednesday in October to keep the habit going. Why?

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Because when we lead with ears, not answers, relationships can change. And that's James 1, verse 19 in action. Being quick to listen doesn't mean you never speak. It means you choose humility first. It's saying, Your story matters. I want to understand before I respond.

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When we think about it, most of us don't naturally listen. We wait for our turn to talk. We rehearse our answer while the other person is still speaking.

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Or we react too quickly and anger takes the wheel. James flips the script. Quick to listen. Slow to speak. Slow to anger. Think about what that would do in your home. What if, before snapping back, you paused long enough to listen to your spouse or your child? What if, at work, you listened fully before giving your opinion? And what if, in tense conversations about politics, faith, or culture, you listened first, not to agree with everything, but to understand? Listening is one of the most practical ways to show love. It tells the other You are worth my time. You're worth my full attention. And when you do that, hearts begin to soften.

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Trust grows, and anger fades.

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And here's my challenge for you today. Choose one conversation where you will intentionally be quick to listen. Put your phone down. Make eye contact. Ask one follow-up question instead of rushing to answer. See how God uses that simple act of love to build a bridge. Lord, teach me to listen with love. Slow me down when I want to speak too quickly or react in anger. Help me reflect your patience and compassion in the way I give others my attention. In Jesus' name, amen. Thanks for joining me today on Daily Devotions for Busy Lives. Remember, listening first is one of the simplest ways to show love. Come back next time for more encouragement to help you live grounded in God's truth. Until then, God bless, and have a great day.