I’m right almost all the time. If you doubt that, just ask me. Seriously, if there’s anything I’ve learned in my life, it’s that I’m seldom right and more often wrong. That’s why I’ve learned to be quiet and listen more than I talk. Or, if I share an opinion and somebody disagrees, my mind very quickly says, “You know, they could be right.” So I listen carefully. When I was young in my marriage, I found myself in a situation where my wife and I were totally disagreeing on an issue related to our children. I finally stopped and told myself, “You know, she loves these kids and doesn’t want them dead, so I must be missing something somewhere.” From that moment on, I would listen to her, but in my mind I would be repeating, “She’s right. You’re wrong. Shut up and listen.” You see, we all have different motives and biases from how we were raised, our sinful bent, or simply our history and makeup. All of these things can interfere with pure, godly decision-making and behavior. The best leaders listen very carefully to their teams. The best followers of Jesus listen very carefully to others, including the lost. One of our founder’s challenges to me is to always start my day remembering the phrase, “Assume positive intent.” I’ve mentioned that before, but it pops up every day on my calendar first thing. It simply helps me realize that discerning motives is a gift best suited to the Holy Spirit, and allowing Him to lead us in our interactions is the only way to function in a lost, fallen, and broken world. Today assume positive intent with everyone. #BeTheEdge
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,” Philippians 2:3 NIV
