The One Piece of Advice that Could Change Your Life

Welcome to The Overflow!  I’m glad you’re here.  This is a place where faith is spilled and souls are filled. I hope you’ll linger a while and be encouraged. You can also meet me on Facebook  or read my devotion at  Proverbs 31 Ministries today.  Better yet, I’d love to meet you face to face! I’m accepting speaking requests for 2021 and 2022. Check out my speaking page for details or contact me at overflow@aliciabruxvoort.net  

“If you were given five minutes to speak to the world’s most influential leaders, what would you say?”

That’s the question I was asked at a university scholarship competition when I was eighteen-years old. 

It was three decades ago, but I still remember how my knees trembled as I peered at the poker-faced panel of professors seated around a giant board table in front of me. 

They sat in expectant silence, ready to record my response with ball-point pens and weigh my words with careful scrutiny.

I looked that intimidating assembly in the eye and and tried not to think about the full-ride scholarship that could be hinging on my answer.  

As a young woman who had rarely traveled beyond the corn-row borders of my small hometown, I’d never considered what I might say to the influencers of the world.  But I took a deep breath and decided to focus on what I did know rather than what I didn’t. 

I had no idea what it would be like to successfully command a country, but years of babysitting had taught me how to effectively manage a tribe of energetic children. 

I had no idea how to quell international disputes, but summers of camp counseling had taught me how to mediate conflict between bunk mates and assuage disagreements between co-counselors.

I had no idea how to navigate a world of needs, but  life within the walls of my local high school had taught me that everyone has a story and everyone longs to be heard.

After a pensive pause, I answered the complicit question with a simple statement.

“If I had five minutes to speak to the world’s most influential leaders, I would remind them that effective leaders must be exceptional listeners.”

A ripple of muffled rumbles passed through the string of stoic judges.

Pens squeaked as the professors scribbled on the crisp white paper in front of them. Then,  a gray-haired woman put down her pen and held my gaze. Slowly, a subtle smile replaced her deadpan expression. “Alicia, that simple truth could change the world.”

I held her gaze and nodded in agreement.

Then, before I was asked to elaborate on my answer, a flushed-face professor murmured under his breath, “Forget about changing the world! That would change this university!”

I’d love to take credit for the prudent words that spilled from my mouth on that long-ago day, but prioritizing the humble art of listening isn’t my original idea.

It’s a wisp of wisdom I borrowed straight from the mouth of God.

Long before I stood before a panel of professors with a flip-flopping stomach and quivering knees, Jesus gathered three of his closest friends on top of a mountain. And while they were, something unusual happened.

Here’s how the gospel of Mark describes it: 

“…Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up a high mountain to be alone. As the men watched, Jesus’ appearance was transformed, and his clothes became dazzling white, far whiter than any earthly bleach could ever make them. Then Elijah and Moses appeared and began talking with Jesus.

Peter exclaimed, “Rabbi, it’s wonderful for us to be here! Let’s make three shelters as memorials—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” He said this because he didn’t really know what else to say, for they were all terrified.

Then a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son. Listen to him.” (Mark 9:2-7, NLT)

Think about it–God could have said absolutely anything in that unprecedented moment on the mountaintop.

He could have articulated volumes of acumen or handed down heaps of instruction. He could have dished out days of discourse or provided a providential pep talk.

After all, Peter, James, and John would soon become some of the most influential leaders in the early church. (And their bumbling response in a moment of radiance and revelation suggested a need for guidance and growth!)

But when the King of Heaven held the rapt-attention of his chosen ones on earth, He gave only one directive: Listen to Jesus. 

He didn’t say love Jesus (Because where the ears are tuned the heart will sing).

He didn’t say follow Jesus (Because we cannot follow if we don’t hear the one who leads).

He didn’t say believe Jesus (Because faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God).

He didn’t say serve Jesus (Because Christ longs for our intimacy more than our industry).

God only spoke one consummate command from his dazzling cloud of glory: Listen.

It may seem elementary, but the result was extraordinary. 

When those three flawed men chose to faithfully heed that mountain-top mandate, they turned the world upside down.  With the help of the Holy Spirit and the partnership of open-eared believers, they launched the church, shook the gates of hell, and built God’s kingdom one redeemed life at a time.

I wonder what would happen  if we who are called by Christ’s name would do the same in 2020? 

What would happen if we listened to the voice of Jesus before we leaped into our day?

What would happen if we focused more on bending an ear to Heaven than blazing a trail on earth?

What would happen if we opened the word of God as listeners instead of just learners?

I think our ordinary lives would be filled with extraordinary purpose.

I think our confusion would be replaced with clarity, our fears would be trumped by peace, and our apathy would give way to joy.

I think we’d be quick to forgive, slow to anger, and prone to praise.

I think we’d stop questioning God’s ways and begin walking in His promises. 

I think we’d praise more. Pray more. And trust more.

Friends, God is looking for people with tender hearts and tenacious ears.

Because we have a Savior who speaks.

And He can still use a bumbling band of listeners to change the world!

If you’re looking for a resource to help you listen for the voice of Jesus as you read the Bible, this free download is for you. Engaging Scripture as a Listener  (Just click on the link and then double click on the printable to download it at full-size).

And before you go, we’d love to hear rom you.  What do you need more right now- a tender heart or tenacious ears? As always, let us know how we can pray for you.