There’s something about August that invites stillness. The hurried pace of early summer begins to slow. The gardens start to rest. The porch feels like a place to breathe again. It’s in this quiet, in-between space that we’re reminded of the gentle power of listening.
Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen. Be slow to speak and slow to get angry.
James 1:19
In his book Life Together, Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote, “Many people are looking for an ear that will listen. They do not find it among Christians, because Christians are talking when they should be listening.” Those words have lingered with me. Because if we’re honest, listening, truly listening isn’t always easy. It asks us to quiet our own thoughts, resist the urge to fix, and offer the holy gift of presence.
James 1:19 gives us a rhythm to live by: be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger.
What would our homes, relationships, and communities look like if we truly lived that way?
Listening isn’t passive. It’s a practice of humility. It’s a way of saying, “You matter. Your story matters. I’m here.” When we slow down and open our ears, we create room for healing. We open our hearts for truth. Sometimes even God speaks through the silence.
So as summer winds down, let’s lean into this quiet gift. Let’s sit beside one another with compassion and curiosity. Let’s listen more than we speak. And let’s trust that even in the stillness, God is at work.
Lord, help me be quick to listen and slow to speak.
Let me be a safe place for others to share, and give me the grace to hear with love.
Sometimes, quiet moments offer the best space to reflect and be still. I created a simple coloring page for you. A gentle way to slow down and to help meditate on the beauty of listening.
👉 James 1:19 Coloring Page
Print it out. Grab your favorite crayons or pencils. Let your heart settle as you color. Let it be a soft pause in your day – a sacred little Sabbath moment.
In what areas of my life is God inviting me to listen more deeply? Where can I use fewer words and have a more open heart?
The Prayer Porch 
