Over the past few days, we established that pride “tunes out” the voices of God and others, while humility sharpens our attention to them. Knowing we must walk down from the mountain of pride is relatively easy; yet actually doing it requires intentional practice. Today, we shift from theory to action, exploring concrete, daily habits to unlearn our prideful communication styles. By practicing specific ways to listen to others and to God, we carve out a quiet space where His voice can finally break through the noise of our ego.
You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger. (James 1:19)
Over the past few days, we have spent considerable time reflecting on the theme of “pride”. This extended focus is not without reason.
At its core, pride is essentially a “refusal to listen” to anything outside of oneself.
It builds thick walls within our hearts, shutting out the voices of others, and most tragically, the voice of God. It is no wonder that prideful people often refuse to listen; in their hearts, they simply do not perceive any need to do so.
As Pope Leo XIV teaches us, “The willingness to listen is the first way we demonstrate our desire to enter into relationship with someone.”
If pride is a spiritual illness that isolates us, then its antidote is “humility”. Humility is a spiritual discipline that keeps us attentive and sensitive both to the world around us and to God.
By now, we hope you are convinced that if we truly wish to hear God’s voice, we must come down from the mountain of our pride. But the most difficult question remains: How do we do it?
To be honest, recognizing the problem is not difficult; truly changing is much harder. Ultimately, this has to do with how we relate to God and how we relate to others.
James the Apostle gives us a clear instruction: “Let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger.” (James 1:19) Proverbs also reminds us: “If one gives answer before hearing, it is folly and shame.” (Proverbs 18:13)
If we want to descend from that mountain, we must begin by cultivating “the ability to listen” in our daily lives. By intentionally forming new habits, we can gradually unlearn the unhealthy habits shaped by our self-centeredness. Let us consider two practical dimensions: listening to others, and listening to God.
First, we can try the following three concrete exercises to practice listening to others.
First exercise: During conversations this week, after someone finishes speaking, intentionally wait three to five seconds before responding.
Very often our pride leads us into what might be called “rebuttal listening”—while the other person is still speaking, we are already busy preparing what we think is a clever response. A brief silence can break this self-centered habit.
Second exercise: After the other person has finished speaking, try briefly restating what they said to confirm your understanding.
This simple practice forces our minds to focus on the other person’s true meaning rather than rushing to judge or express our own opinions.
Third exercise: When we feel an urge to “correct” someone or to “win” an argument, try responding gently: “Could you tell me more about that? I’d like to understand better.”
This phrase reminds our ego that we are not in “expert mode,” but rather in “discovery mode.”
These practices help us gradually lower our defensive walls and make space for the perspectives of others.
As we learn to listen to others, we are also preparing our hearts to listen to God. Here are three spiritual exercises for the soul.
First spiritual exercise: Each morning, spend five to ten minutes sitting quietly before God.
As Psalms 46:10 says: “Be still, and know that I am God.” You may also borrow the words of the young Samuel: “Speak, for your servant is listening.” (1 Samuel 3:10) Do not rush to ask for anything. Simply place yourself quietly in God’s presence.
Second spiritual exercise: Deliberately perform a good deed for someone—perhaps helping with a chore or giving a small gift—but make sure the person never knows it was you.
This discipline trains our hearts to seek only God’s hidden approval, rather than depending on human applause.
Third spiritual exercise: For one week, notice whenever you find yourself “polishing” a story in order to appear more intelligent, more successful, or more knowledgeable than you really are. Record these moments in a journal for reflection.
Bring these subtle forms of pride before God, confess them to Him, and ask Him to uproot your desire for self-exaltation.
Do not underestimate these exercises. They are not merely psychological techniques; they are profound spiritual disciplines. They open up a quiet space within our hearts where God’s voice can finally be heard above the noisy clamor of our inflated self-importance.
May we gradually turn these intentional practices into lifelong habits. In this way, our ears and hearts will remain attuned to the gentle and subtle voice of our Lord.
Let us now reflect once more on today’s Scripture:
You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger. (James 1:19)
Reflection
When listening to others, do I often fall into the trap of “rebuttal listening,” beginning to formulate my response while the other person is still speaking?
How difficult is it for me to maintain three to five seconds of silence before responding in a conversation? Why?
In what areas of my life do I tend to polish stories or embellish facts in order to maintain my image and make myself appear better?
Today’s Prayer
Lord, You are the God who speaks in a gentle whisper, yet the noise of my pride so often drowns out Your voice.
I confess that I am quick to speak and eager to correct others, yet slow to truly listen. My self-centeredness has built high walls that shut out the wisdom of others and the grace of Your presence.
Grant me perseverance to practice mindful silence and sincere curiosity. Teach me to serve invisibly, seeking only Your gaze rather than the applause of the world.
Help me to be still, to let go of my desire to appear important, and with a humble heart simply say: “Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening.”
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Speak Lord, your servant is listening. Help me to discipline myself in my conversation with others and spend quiet time in front of you.