Introduction

“Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger” -James 1:19

“The first service that one owes to others in the fellowship consists in listening to them.”  -Dietrich Bonhoeffer  

Thank you for taking the time to read this booklet. Sometimes in the race of life we become consumed by the distractions around us and forget about the strength that comes from listening to fellow Christians talk about their struggles and victories. This compilation of devotions is designed to allow people in Riverview Baptist Church the opportunity to share insights and read the stories on our shared journey in following Christ. A special thank you to Mitch and Jodi Reed who created the examples for our devotions. It is always scarier to be the first person to jump into something new.

If you are reading these devotions to find fault or to start argument, then please examine your motives. If you would like to contribute a devotional in the future, then please send it too:

jacob.a.jeffers6@gmail.com or office@riverviewtoday.org

As of this morning we have received 31 devotions. We have just enough for the month of January. It is my sincere hope and the hope of a significant number of contributors that we can maintain publishing a devotion a day for the rest of the year. If you have something in your heart, please write it down and share it with us. Thank you for reading and thank you for contributing.

                                                                                                -Jacob Adam Jeffers

Day 1: Listener

Scripture: (Jeremiah 29:12-13): Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Author: Mitch Reed

One of my biggest struggles is being a good listener to those I encounter. My mind likes to race to the next thing, or I am already thinking about my response without being fully engaged with eye contact.  I am sure that sometimes the folks I am talking to don't feel valued, important, or relevant when I seem to be disengaged.

I am grateful to God that He is an omniscient and omnipresent listener to all our needs and struggles!  Just like it says in Jeremiah 29:12, He is always listening and waiting for us to talk to Him about our needs and struggles.  He is fully engaged to hear from His children and desires for us to talk with Him.  Isn't it amazing to know that we always have the God of all creation waiting for us to lift prayers of praise, needs, and struggles to Him?  The fact that He is always engaged...waiting to hear from us should give us great peace of how much our Heavenly Father truly loves us!

So as we engage in these days of prayer in January, let us be reminded of how much our Father loves us and desires to hear from us.  He may not always answer the prayers we have at the moment, but just to know He is always listening is such a beautiful picture of how much He loves His children.