Message Library

Listening and Learning

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Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Philippians 4:9

Learning is something that should continue throughout our life. What happens if we stop learning? If we stop learning it can affect our spiritual growth and we will not become the person God created us to be. A wise man will hear and increase in learning, And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel, (Proverbs 1:5).

What hinders us from listening and learning? I am defining listening as: listening to others, listening as we read, listening and learning from life’s experiences. No one really stops learning because we learn the minimum to keep us safe and alive. The learning we are talking about is spiritual growth, enabling us to make Godly wise decisions. Our learning includes: Bible reading, obeying the Lord, understanding people, finances, work, and home skills. Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. (Proverbs 4: 6-7)

Learning is a skill that we all can improve. When we take in information and repeat it, we can hold the information for a minute or less in our short-term memory, and if we study the information and take notes, then we can retain the information indefinitely in long-term memory. Ninety percent of learning takes place in the subconscious mind and this is dependent on the ten percent learning in the conscious mind. If the information is not in long-term memory we lose ninety percent of our learning.

The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. (1 Corinthians 2:14). The Spirit helps to understand the Word and the Spirit guides and helps us to listen and learn, enabling us to make Godly decisions. But whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. (Psalm 1:2) Necessary to improve our learning is the ability to focus on the subject we are learning. Meditation is thinking deeply on the information, and the Spirit helps us to focus our thoughts.

Today open your mind to learn. Learn more about ministering to people, learn more of God’s Word, and learn more about you. Seek Godly books on particular subjects to help you serve the Lord, and continually learn more from the Word. Learning is exciting, especially learning God’s Word, because he will periodically reveal new and exciting insight into his thoughts and his ways.

Prayer: Lord, help me to continually learn as you mold me to be Christ-like. Help to learn more about ministering to people, to be patient and listen, responding with your wisdom. Guide me in the Spirit and give me the words to minister with heart of love and patience. Open the hearts to people I minister today, so they will seek the truth. In Jesus name, Amen