Practical things...or practicing things

Its interesting to me that when I hear something I usually am not listening the first time. So out of trained response even when I am listening I say phrases like "what do you mean" and "what" even if I am listening to the person. This morning I woke up way earlier than I thought I was supposed to wake up because in Todd World today was Wednesday up until oh about 7:40, then it suddenly became Oh-my-gosh-I'm-so-late Tuesday. As I threw clothes on and dashed out the door I was thinking about how I don't listen continuing to reflect on this weekend and hearing from God.

So I started to think about why I don't listen and concluded its because I am constantly thinking about myself. Like not like ways I can benefit from what they are talking about but literally when people talk to me I tend to think about myself like how big my beard is getting, there is a spot on my glasses, i need to lose weight, I wonder what I'm going to eat for dinner, I hope I don't run into traffic on the way home. All of these thoughts pass as someone talks to me and then I tune in and respond with....What?

So to those of you that talk to me I may need a second where you should talk about something pointless then tell me what you need to tell me because I may not be listening until a few seconds in.

My goal is to be a less selfish listener. How to accomplish that though?
Love is key...Love is always the key.
I have to realize that if I am wanting to exemplify love toward a person then I would want to listen to what they have to say.
People should be a good practice to get into the discipline of listening.
Even with all of my knowledge of the word and about being still and waiting I still have a hard time listening. All of the tools are before me but I don't know how to use them.
SO God I just ask for wisdom as to how to be a better listener and use the tools you have provided for me.
Amen.