Ninety-nine percent of what looks like listening in the world is not genuine listening. It’s just waiting at a stoplight with the mind’s engine running until the light turns green and we can go again. — Bob Burg
Communication is more than putting thoughts on a page. It begins much deeper—with learning to listen, seek truth, and honestly express what we discover.
When we learn to listen to God and seek truth from him, our words gain depth, clarity, and authenticity. More than expression, writing becomes a conversation with truth itself.
A Desire for Truth
Every meaningful conversation begins with a desire to know what’s true. We often start with our own assumptions. But good writing requires humility. We must be willing to question our ideas and pursue deeper understanding.
A writer who seeks truth is like a miner digging for gold. The first shovel of dirt rarely reveals treasure. Finding what lies beneath the surface requires curiosity, patience, and persistence. In the same way, prayer and reflection allow God to uncover deeper insights—truths that eventually become powerful words on the page.
The Foundation of Real Communication
True communication requires honesty—even when it’s uncomfortable.
Many people struggle to communicate honestly with God because they are not fully honest with themselves. We sometimes hide behind excuses, pride, or fear. Yet God already knows our hearts.
King David demonstrated remarkable honesty in his prayers: Search me thoroughly, God. Examine my heart, and check to be sure my thoughts are pure (Psalm 139:23). David didn’t pretend to be perfect. He invited God’s examination. We need the same courage.
The best writing isn’t safe or superficial. It digs into real struggles, doubts, fears, and hopes. Honesty is the doorway to meaningful communication—with God and with readers.
Required Listening
Communication is not only about speaking. It is equally about listening. This is often the hardest part. We are quick to express our opinions. But listening requires patience and humility.
Listening to God seldom involves hearing an audible voice. It usually comes through Scripture, quiet reflection, wise counsel, or circumstances that guide our understanding.
Writers also need to listen—to people, to experiences, and to the subtle movements of the heart. Great stories often emerge from careful observation.
Think of a journalist interviewing a witness. The most valuable information comes when the interviewer stops talking and listens carefully. The more we listen, the more we learn. And the better we can write.
Not Like We Expected
When we communicate with God, we may want immediate or obvious answers, but that’s not always the way it works. The apostle Paul prayed three times about his “thorn in the flesh, a messenger from Satan” (2 Corinthians 12:7–9). We may pray for clarity, direction, or inspiration, but instead we face silence or difficulty. Yet those difficult seasons often produce our most meaningful work.
Struggle sharpens insight.
Hard questions deepen perspective.
Sometimes the most powerful writing will grow out of unanswered questions.
Shaping Relationships
When people communicate honestly with God, their relationship with him grows stronger. The same principle applies to human relationships—including writers connecting with their readers. Healthy communication requires listening, asking thoughtful questions, and genuinely seeking understanding.
Thoughtful questions and careful observation help uncover the deeper thoughts and emotions that shape human experience. Good communication builds bridges. Poor communication builds walls.
Writers who learn to communicate clearly and compassionately create connections with their readers.
An Extension of Communication with God
When writers grow comfortable communicating with God, their writing changes. Words become more thoughtful. Ideas become more grounded in truth. Messages become more meaningful.
We want Jesus’ promise for wonderful words to flow from our hearts (Matthew 12:34). If the heart is shallow, the writing will be shallow. But if the heart is filled with truth, wisdom, and humility, the writing carries depth.
Many great writers throughout history have understood this principle. They recognized that writing is a reflection of the soul, not merely a technical skill.
Listener and Messenger
Writers become “translators of truth.” They listen carefully—to God, to life, to people—and then translate those insights into words that others can understand. The process resembles a radio receiver. A radio doesn’t create the signal. It simply receives and broadcasts it.
Spiritual listening helps words carry clarity and resonance far beyond our own abilities. We become channels for ideas that inspire, encourage, and challenge readers.
More than Technique
Writers often focus on technique: vocabulary, grammar, structure, and publishing strategies. These skills matter, but they are not the foundation of great communication.
The foundation is a heart that seeks truth.
When you communicate honestly with God—listening as much as you speak—you develop a deeper understanding of life and faith. That understanding naturally flows into your writing.
So…
- Write with honesty.
- Listen carefully.
- Seek truth relentlessly.
And remember: The most powerful words often begin in quiet conversations with God. When communication with God becomes real, communication with the world becomes meaningful.
For a practical guide to storytelling, check out Storytelling at Its Best
