Sitting, listening and learning from leaders is one of the greatest joys of my life.
I have the privilege of working with one to three different leaders almost every week, and occasionally even speaking to hundreds or even thousands at a time.
The greatest key in being an effective listener is changing how you listen. Most of our lives we listen to respond but learning to listen in order to understand changes every conversation.
Listening to respond is about revealing how much you know.
On the other hand, listening to understand is about unlocking the heart and the potential of the person that setting in front of you.
Today I what to share with you a powerful truth that is so simple, and yet many leaders tend to miss all the time when having their own conversations with God:
"The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty has given me life" (Job 33:4).
Stop, Breathe, Listen
Have you ever felt like no one understands you?
Or maybe you've felt like your life is going nowhere?
Perhaps, like me, you've had a time of feeling utterly hopeless. Have you ever felt like you are far away from God?
You are not alone in your feelings.
God understands exactly how you feel, and His love for you never changes.
No one knows you better than God.
No one understands your needs better than God
No one knows what's best for you more than God.
No one is closer to you than God.
No one loves you more than God.
During times of uncertainty or fear, the best thing for you to do is to just breathe and listen.
When things don't make sense, or you feel alone don't overthink your situation, just breathe and listen.
Breathe and reflect back on all the times God got you through a battle.
Breathe and cry out to God with your struggles.
Breathe and draw near to God.
Breathe and listen for God's Spirit in your heart.
Breathe and release your fears.
Breathe and release your worries.
Breathe and let go of your sins.
Breathe and thank God for his enduring faithfulness.
Breathe and sing praises to God.
Breathe and let God's peace fill your lungs.
Breathe and feel the weight of the world leave your shoulders.
Breathe and remember how dear you are to God.
Breathe and realize that you are more precious to God than any of His other creations.
Breathe and call on the name of Jesus.
And then listen for His voice.
Stop, breathe and Listen. 
Mikel French has challenged spiritual awakening all across America, where many celebrations extended into multiple weeks, and has conducted celebrations in France, Sweden, Russia, Romania, Poland, Ukraine, Moldova, Serbia, Germany, South Africa, Malawi, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Haiti, Japan, Singapore, India and Thailand. He conducted an outreach celebration in Manila, Philippines, reaching 200,000 teenagers with the book of hope. Through the generous support of partners, he has presented the message of Jesus Christ to millions of people in the nation of Russia through televised citywide soul-winning celebrations. Mikel considers it an honor to assist in conducting the annual pastor's conference, where thousands of pastors from Russia's 11 time zones come for training, teaching and equipping. Mikel and his wife, Marsha, reside in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
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