Back to School
Who is God in your mind? Here are some studies that will help you in your understanding of God’s work in your life.
Join us for our Daily Devotional Chat today in our Women’s Chatroom at 10:30 am EDT.
Let the wise listen and add to their learning” (Proverbs 1:5, NIV).
Returning to school each fall was never a chore for me. While I loved the unscheduled freedom of the summer weeks to wander the fields of our rural home and read without the annoying interruption of clanging bells, the classroom enticingly beckoned with its yet unexplored vistas for the mind.
That same appetite must be enthusiastically nurtured for spiritual growth. Wise Solomon lays it out with clarity: if I wish to be a person who is wise, disciplined, insightful, just, prudent and discerning, I must always be ready to “go back to school,” always adding to my learning.
Life Lesson: Biblical perspective on the end times
Experience It: Living in the power of the Holy Spirit
There is no person as refreshing as the one whose mind is alert to and involved in new learning. Terms such as diligence, careful study and obedient responsiveness are used in the Bible to describe how Christ followers are to progress in their understanding of God.
Just as He promised to “bless the thirsty land by sending streams of water,” He also promises that if we “pay attention…listen carefully to (God’s) life-giving word” (Isaiah 44 and 55), He will satisfy our thirst and make us productive in His Kingdom.
The classroom of God never closes its doors for summer vacation. He always enticingly beckons us into new and challenging paths.
Father, it is easy to get lazy in my walk with you. Thank you for members of my faith community who regularly stimulate and challenge me to listen and learn.
Questions: What are some ways that we can always be “adding to our learning” and keeping our minds sharp and alert to serve God? Give us some examples that you have found to be especially beneficial.
About the Author Marilyn J. Ehle
I would also like to thank the women who write these devotionals I love to read them and there is always something there to help mme or make me think
Patti, you are so right! Reading God’s Word without praying for His illumination of it can be like having all the ingredients to make a cake and not have an oven to bake it! The Holy Spirit is essential to our learning and applying spiritual truths found in the Bible, and prayer invites God to open the door to understanding it’s mystery and treasures! It is also important, as you pointed out, to be teachable spirits, willing to learn and be challenged in our faith, and always using Scripture as the standard and measure of truth! Sometimes truth can be hard to hear, but we are exhorted to “speak the truth in love” that we might grow up in our faithwalk, becoming unified as the body of Christ. (Ephesians 4:1-16) DonnaL, nice to ‘see’ you! :) Hope all is well on your side of the globe!
Thanks Marilyn and ladies…all helpful responses to the question. I have just returned from a weekend away at our church’s annual Women’s conference. I was so encouraged and challenged by the speaker’s teaching. If your church offers such weekends, don’t shy away, give them a try. God will teach so many things through these kinds of weekends. And the fellowship can be amazing. Love to you all. Donna
Yes, reading the Word and spending time in prayer…..asking God for insight and wisdom is so important in our learning and discovering Him in our lives. I also find this devotional blog very challenging for me to think about and apply in my life. I am continually challenged by women here… to go to the Word and study…to ask the Lord to open my eyes…my heart, to instruct and also to reveal the things that do not line up with scripture.
I’ve been encouraged, ministered and even corrected.
Thank You Lord, for this ministry, for the women who write these devotionals and those who share their lives…wisdom and love.
First the best way to be in constant learning mode is to read the Word of God, then there are so many godly authors now that it is way too hard to keep up, books of fiction and non-fiction help with the learning process, and my second favorite is music, gospel music helps me to praise when nothing is going right and I’m feel defeated. sometimes it’s the ticket to a lot of learning.
thanks for this great devotional