Learn Something New Every Day

This “new” information needs to be pondered and prayerfully run through the filter of God’s wisdom and Word. Sometimes, the new thing we have just learned is simply a different way someone sees life, or a preference, an opinion that they have formed on their own through their life experiences. As we hold it up to the light of God’s Word, we may see flaws in the opinion, but it also shines a light into their heart, thoughts, and life that we can pray over and discuss with respect and love.

Other times, the truth in what we just heard challenges us to rethink the way we think, to search our hearts and reasons for why we thought and lived a certain way. Was it a teaching or tradition we obtained from a generation of family or picked up from a friend and it seemed right at the time, but now as we look at it through the wisdom of God we see our own flawed perception? In these “aha” moments we can prayerfully ask God to renew our minds and transform our thoughts to be aligned with His higher thoughts and ways.

Most of our “learning” teaches us how to do something useful that we need to put into practice throughout life, like reading, math, a skill, or talent that enhances our success throughout our lifetime.

The word “disciple” means, “student or pupil,” it reminds us, as followers of Jesus to be life-long learners always seeking to know God in a closer and clearer relationship each day. As we keep our eyes and ears inclined to God’s wisdom, knowledge and understanding we will literally, “Learn something new every day.”

As this season brings the start of a new school year and we continue in our series of “Soul Care,” we want to encourage you to learn and share something new you learn each day. As you eat a meal together as a family, talk with friends or co-workers, keep a daily journal or list of what you all learned each day so you can review and make sure the “new” rubs off on you and is not quickly forgotten.

This can help to spur on conversations about what our friends and family are learning and experiencing at school, work, what they learned while watching a screen, listening to friends, or reading the Bible.

We encourage you to be a good listener, don’t interrupt or interject your feelings or opinions while they are sharing even if you strongly disagree, prayerfully listen so they learn to trust you and want to tell you things they may be struggling with or are unsure of.

Prayerfully pause and answer them with questions that will help them think through the information they just shared. Ask God to keep your feelings under control and provided fruitful conversations built on truth and trust that will be, as our Scripture says, “sought like treasure” throughout your lives.

Learn from one another and talk about how you can all put what you learn into practice as you pray together and thank God for storing and pouring wisdom in you and through you as He protects you like a shield and guides you on paths of righteousness and spiritual success.