Lead with Reflection: The Habit of Writing What I Learn

“The Lord gave me this answer: ‘Write down clearly on tablets what I reveal to you, so that it can be read at a glance.’” Habakkuk 2:2 (GNT)

Part of learning to hear God speak—and remembering what he says—is writing it down. This is the spiritual habit of journaling, and it’s a great one for followers of Jesus to understand and practice.

A journal is not a diary. A diary is about the things I did. But a journal contains my prayers to God and the lessons I’ve learned—the mistakes I’ve made and what he has taught me through them. It’s a written record of my journey with God.

One way to journal is to write God’s responses to my questions. As I read the Bible, write down the questions that come to mind. Then record the things God reveals.

Habakkuk did that when he wanted to hear God speak. In the book of Habakkuk, the Lord said, “Write down clearly on tablets what I reveal to you, so that it can be read at a glance” (Habakkuk 2:2 GNT). That’s how we got the book of Habakkuk. In chapter one, Habakkuk wrote down what he said to God. And in chapter two, he wrote down what God said back to him.

That’s also how we got the book of Psalms. Many of the psalms were written by David during his quiet moments with God. In some, he begins with what he’s feeling and ends with what God says.

Another way to journal is to write down my prayers. When I write them down, it preserves a spiritual legacy for my children and grandchildren. Imagine the influence I can have for generations to come if I keep a spiritual journal. The Bible says, “Write these things for the future so that people who are not yet born will praise the LORD” (Psalm 102:18 NCV).

Writing down my prayers also gives me the opportunity to record God’s answers when they come. I can remember how God had taken care of me. I could see how he had led me through.” 

If I don’t write down what I'm learning, I'm going to forget. The shortest pencil is longer than the longest memory—so write it down! And build a record of God’s care that I can return to again and again.

In Summary:

Habakkuk and David modeled the power of writing down their conversations with God—capturing both their prayers and God’s responses. Habakkuk recorded his dialogue with God, which became the book bearing his name, and David’s heartfelt reflections became the Psalms. Likewise, journaling my prayers allows me to preserve a record of God’s guidance, care, and faithfulness, creating a spiritual legacy for future generations. Writing down what I’m learning helps me remember how God has led me through challenges and answered prayers, serving as a continual reminder of His presence and direction. The act of journaling transforms fleeting moments of insight into lasting evidence of God’s hand in my life.

Bottom Line:

Write down what God reveals to me. Journaling turns fleeting moments of insight into lasting guidance—helping me remember His faithfulness, deepen my relationship with Him, and leave a spiritual legacy for those who follow.

My next wisest step is to begin a consistent habit of spiritual journaling—setting aside regular time to write down what God is teaching me, the prayers I'm praying, and the insights I gain through Scripture and reflection. By recording these moments, I'll not only strengthen my personal connection with God but also gain clarity and perspective for my leadership and coaching work. Over time, my journal will become a well of wisdom and encouragement—both for me and for those I mentor—helping me stay aligned with my purpose and create a lasting spiritual legacy.

The Wisdom of Listening First

“Listen for God’s voice in everything you do and everywhere you go. He’s the one who will keep you on track.” Proverbs 3:6 (MSG)

In Luke 8:8, Jesus told a crowd who was gathered around him, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear” (NIV). He had something to say—and it was important for them to listen.

The same is true for me. God wants to talk to me—and I need to take time to hear him.

When I hear from God, it proves that you’re in his family. If I don’t have any communication with God, then I don’t have a relationship with him, I just know about him; I don’t really know him. But when I communicate with God—talking to and listening to each other—that proves I have a relationship.

Hearing from God protects me from mistakes, too. When I start listening to God, I find that he warns me about potholes, traps, and bends in the road. I save yourself a lot of time, energy, frustration, and failure when I listen to God and do things his way.

The Message paraphrase of the Bible says, “Listen for God’s voice in everything you do and everywhere you go. He’s the one who will keep you on track” (Proverbs 3:6). Sometimes he just says one or two words like—“Don’t,” or “No,” or “Watch out.” That’s all he needs to say.

And hearing from God also produces success in life. Not the way the world defines success—by wealth or popularity or prestige. That’s not success. Instead, success is exactly who God made me to be. Success is what results from living in the center of God’s will.

In Psalm 32, God promises, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you” (Psalm 32:8 NLT). Notice that God promises to lead me on the best path for my life. What he’s planned for me is different from what he’s planned for everybody else—because he knows that what’s best for someone else isn’t necessarily best for me.

Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27 NLT). I need to be sure to take time to listen to the Good Shepherd today.

In summary:

God desires an ongoing, personal relationship with me—and that begins with learning to listen to His voice in all I do. When I take time to hear from Him, it confirms that I belong to His family and protects me from wrong turns, wasted effort, and unnecessary frustration. Proverbs 3:6 reminds me to “listen for God’s voice in everything,” because He alone keeps me on the right path. Hearing His guidance isn’t about achieving worldly success but about living in alignment with His will—becoming who He created me to be. Like a shepherd leading his sheep, God promises to guide, advise, and watch over me, showing me the best pathway for my life when I choose to listen and follow.

Bottom Line:

When I slow down and listen for God’s voice, He keeps me on the right path—protecting, guiding, and aligning me with His perfect will for my life.

My Next steps:

Build intentional listening time into my daily rhythm—quiet space to hear from God before leading, planning, or creating.

I already lead, coach, and influence others from a place of purpose. I should strengthen that influence by deepening my dependence on divine guidance. Begin each day not with what I must do, but with a moment of surrender: “Lord, what are You saying to me today?” Write down what I sense, align my priorities with it, and let my actions flow from that place of peace and clarity. From that stillness, my leadership will gain even greater spiritual authority, authenticity, and impact.

Slow to Speak, Slow to Anger

“Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.” James 1:19 (NIV)

Have you noticed how rarely you get to finish a sentence these days? We sometimes don’t even let others complete their sentences. We get angry easily and talk over each other all the time. You see it on talk shows. You hear it on podcast programs. You watch it on TV news, with three or four people talking at the same time and trying to make a point. But when everybody’s talking at once, nobody’s really listening.

How did we get here?

With a faster and more frantic speed of life, people have become more impatient. We’re so eager to speak our mind—or to just finish the conversation and move on to the next thing—that we’re not even interested enough in the other person and their perspective to hear them out.

The Bible says in James 1:19, “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry” (NIV). Notice that if you do the first two—listen first and don’t speak right away—then the third is automatic. When you are quick to listen and slow to speak, you will be much less likely to become angry.

As parents, coworkers, neighbors, and spouses, it’s easy to lose our temper. Once our impatience starts to flare, it’s a quick trip to anger and conflict. 

But the Bible offers an effective way to combat anger in your life: Practice listening before you speak and working to understand the other person before you respond. When you do that, you will learn to deal with your anger.

If you think you don’t have an anger problem, you may just really be good at hiding it. When it comes to anger, everyone is either a skunk or a turtle. When they get angry, skunks stink up the whole place. Everybody knows they’re upset! Turtles, on the other hand, tend to pull back into their shells and internalize their anger. You may not see it, but it’s still boiling up inside.

Both skunks and turtles need to deal with their anger—they need to learn how to be quick to listen and slow to speak.

Be slow to speak, and you’ll be slow to anger. And by taking your time to respond, you’ll also be better able to really listen.

In summary:

In today’s fast-paced world, people have grown increasingly impatient, often speaking over one another without fully listening. This behavior is common in everyday conversations, media, and public discussions, where the need to quickly express opinions outweighs the willingness to hear others out. James 1:19 provides a remedy, urging me to be "quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry." When I prioritize listening and pause before responding, anger naturally diminishes, creating space for more thoughtful and respectful interactions.

Whether in families, workplaces, or communities, unchecked impatience often escalates into anger and conflict. Everyone experiences anger differently—some express it openly like skunks, while others internalize it like turtles—but both need to address it. By consciously practicing listening first and speaking later, I not only manage my own anger more effectively but also deepen my understanding of those around me. Slowing down my reactions will lead to healthier communication and stronger relationships.

To Love, I Have to Listen

In Romans 15:2 I read, “We must bear the ‘burden’ of being considerate of the doubts and fears of others.” (TLB)

Listening is probably the most important skill in building friendships and relationships. I can’t love people without listening to them.

But sometimes people run into trouble in their relationships when they think hearing and listening are the same thing. The truth is that there’s a big difference between hearing someone and listening to them.

I can hear something and not really be listening. I am hearing the words but not really listening to the emotions. Sometimes the words don’t even matter. Someone can say to me, “I’m fine,” but the way they say it tells me that they’re not. Listening means I also hear what the person isn’t saying.

When I listen that way, I’m showing empathy. Empathy means to put myself in the other person’s shoes and learn their point of view. I ask myself, “How would I feel if I were in that situation?”

Listening with empathy means I listen without interruption and I listen for what’s not being said—the feelings and fears behind the words. And I don’t need to try to fix the situation; sometimes healing comes just from someone listening!

Romans 15:2 says, “We must bear the ‘burden’ of being considerate of the doubts and fears of others” (TLB).

What does it mean to be considerate or to bear the burden of someone else’s doubts? It means that—when people are in so much pain that they don’t even know what they believe—they need the devotion of a loyal friend. They need someone who will be present and listen with empathy. Will I be that friend today?

In summary, listening is probably the most important skill in building friendships and relationships. I can’t love people without listening to them. Often we think hearing and listening are the same thing, however there’s a big difference between hearing someone and listening to them. I can hear something and not really be listening. I am hearing the words but not really listening to the emotions. Sometimes the words don’t even matter. Someone can say to me, “I’m fine,” but the way they say it tells me that they’re not. Listening means I also hear what the person isn’t saying. When I listen that way, I’m showing empathy, which puts me in the other person’s shoes and to learn their point of view. Listening with empathy means I listen without interruption and I listen for what’s not being said—the feelings and fears behind the words. I don’t need to try to fix the situation; sometimes healing comes just from someone listening! To be considerate or to bear the burden of someone else’s doubts? It means that—when people are in so much pain that they don’t even know what they believe—they need the devotion of a loyal friend. They need someone who will be present and listen with empathy. 

I need to look after the good of the people around me, asking myself, “How can I help?” I need to be considerate and help others do what is right. Listening is probably the most important skill in building friendships and relationships. I can love others without listening to them. There's a big difference between hearing and listening. Listening means I also hear what the person isn't saying. This is empathy and it's where I put myself in the other person's shoes and learn their point of view. I need to listen without interruption and listen for fears and feelings. Often healing comes by listening. Others need the devotion of a loyal friend, someone who will be present and listen with empathy.  

Giving the Gift of My Attention

In Philippians 2:4 I read, “Do not be interested only in your own life, but be interested in the lives of others.” (NCV)

When I walk into a meeting, how many people are sitting there, looking at their phones, texting or scrolling social media? Our heads seem to be always down, engrossed in a video or game, and our earbuds keep us from hearing the people near us. It’s so easy to sit in a restaurant with friends yet be more concerned about our “friends” on Facebook or Twitter or Instagram.

I may be hanging out with two friends, but I’m more focused on tweeting to 100! Then I may be worried about how many people are retweeting it or liking my post. It’s all about me instead of the people God has placed right in front of me.

I live in a world where tools and technology have left us perpetually distracted and trained us to no longer pay attention to the people in our lives. 

If I want to have happier relationships, I need to learn the lost art of paying attention.

The Bible says in Philippians 2:4, “Do not be interested only in your own life, but be interested in the lives of others” (NCV).

This doesn’t come naturally. Based on my nature, I may not care what someone else is interested in. Based on my nature, I usually want the attention on myself, not the other person.

But the greatest gift I can give somebody is my attention—because my attention is my time, and my time is my life. I’m never going to get my time back, and that’s why it is so precious when I give it.

This is a simple but powerful tool in growing strong relationships. Am I interested in what my kids or grandchildren are interested in? Do I listen to what my partner has to say? Do I give my coworkers my attention when they speak to me? Do I notice my neighbors as I walk by their home in the morning?

Learning the lost art of paying attention is an act of love. It will transform my relationships and help me live a happy life.

In summary, when I walk into a meeting or go to a restaurant, how many people are sitting there, looking at their phones, texting or scrolling social media? Our heads seem to be always down, engrossed in a video or game, and our earbuds keep us from hearing the people near us. It’s so easy to sit in a restaurant with friends yet be more concerned about our “friends” on Facebook or Twitter or Instagram. I may be hanging out with two friends, but I’m more focused on tweeting to 100! I also may be worried about how many people are retweeting it or liking my post. It’s all about me instead of the people God has placed right in front of me. Tools and technology have left us perpetually distracted and trained us to no longer pay attention to the people in our lives. To have happier relationships, I need to learn the lost art of paying attention. The Bible tells me to “not be interested only in your own life, but be interested in the lives of others”. This doesn’t come naturally. I may not care what someone else is interested in. Based on my nature, I usually want the attention on myself, not the other person. The greatest gift I can give somebody is my attention, as my attention is my time, and my time is my life. I’m never going to get my time back, and that’s why it is so precious when I give it. So am I interested in what my kids or grandchildren are interested in? Do I listen to what my partner has to say? Do I give my coworkers my attention when they speak to me? Do I notice my neighbors as I walk by their home in the morning? Learning the lost art of paying attention is an act of love. It will transform my relationships and help me live a happy life.

So I shouldn’t be selfish or try to impress others. Instead I need to learn to be humble, thinking of others as better than myself. I am to do it with the same attitude that Christ had, giving up his equality with God and serving us. Paul encourages me to guard against any selfishness, prejudice, or jealousy that might lead to dissension. Show a genuine interest in others and maintain unity. So I shouldn’t be obsessed with my own advantages. I need to learn to forget about myself long enough to lend a helping hand. I need to avoid being selfish or trying to impress others. I need to show a genuine interest in others. Pay attention, so that I don't miss opportunities or chances to help. Be intentional about looking away from myself and looking to the needs of others.  

How to Love People into God’s Family

In Psalm 40:3 I read, “Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the LORD.” (NLT)

Because of Jesus, I can have my past forgiven, have a purpose for living, and have a home in heaven. Telling others about this hope I have in Jesus is the most loving thing I can do.

When people see the difference Jesus makes in my life, it has an impact. The Bible says, “Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the LORD” (Psalm 40:3 NLT).

Yesterday, I looked at three practical steps to help me share the hope of Jesus. Here are three more:

Listen first. Every person on this planet has a deep hunger to be heard, to be understood, and to have their feelings validated. Proverbs 18:13 says, “Listen before you answer” (GNT). My ear is a great tool for showing love to someone. When I listen to another person, I can find the key to their heart.

Share my stories. Notice I said “stories,” not “story.” Why? Because I have many stories, or testimonies. A lot of people think they only have one testimony—the testimony of how they came to Christ. But has God ever helped me with a financial, relational, or health problem? I have hundreds of powerful testimonies that can point people to Jesus.

Bring people to worship. One of the best ways I can share the Good News is to bring people to church. As they walk into a service, they will see many believers coming together, worshiping God, and believing the same thing. Acts 2:47 says, “At the same time, they praised God and had the good will of all the people. Every day the Lord saved people, and they were added to the group” (GW).

Most people don’t know about the hope that Jesus Christ gives, and so they are spiritually empty. What step can I take today to bring someone into the family of God?

In summary, because of Jesus, my past was forgiven, I have a purpose for living, and I have a home in heaven. Telling others about this hope I have in Jesus is the most loving thing I can do. When people see the difference Jesus makes in my life, it has an impact. The Bible says, “Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the LORD”. Yesterday, I looked at three practical steps to help me share the hope of Jesus. Here are three more: Listen first. Every person has a deep hunger to be heard, to be understood, and to have their feelings validated. My ear is a great tool for showing love. When I listen, I can find the key to their heart. Share my stories. I have many stories, or testimonies. God has helped me with financial, relational, and health problems. I have hundreds of powerful testimonies that can point people to Jesus. Bring people to worship. I can share the Good News is to bring people to church. They will see many believers coming together, worshiping God, and believing the same thing. Most people don’t know about the hope that Jesus Christ gives, and so they are spiritually empty. What step can I take today to bring someone into the family of God?

Doing God's will sometimes means waiting patiently. While I wait, I can love God, serve others, and tell others about him. Waiting for God to help me is not easy, but David received four benefits from waiting: (1) God lifted him out of his despair, (2) God set his fee on solid ground, (3 God steadied him as he walked, and (4) God put a new song of praise in his mouth. Often blessings cannot be received unless we go through the trial of waiting.