Good communication involves filtering what you hear through the screen of what you know about the person speaking. When my friend makes an observation about something personal, I can choose to hear it as criticism or helpful information. If I am wise, I will remember to use the filter of her consistent and loving friendship and receive her words in the way that she intends for me to hear them. When I hear God’s commands, I can also choose to receive them as impossible demands or threatening obligations or as loving guidelines from a good and merciful and gracious God who longs to bless me and show me His amazing love. Help me, Lord, to listen and follow your directions, so that the next generation will have obvious reasons to choose the same path.
