Being Teachable By Casey Wayne
I love to learn. By most people's standards, I was a successful student and had a strong desire to go to school without missing any days.
If there is something I really want to do but do not know how to do it, I can become determined to figure it out and do it on my own. Raised to be independent, I can also become unwilling to let people help me or give up control. So in my early adulthood, while getting a teaching degree, this quote from Socrates stood out to me, "The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing." The importance of humility and that learning is an unending endeavor was planted in my mind.
As I entered my teaching years, my thoughts on learning developed. My heart quickly wrapped around the idea that progress is more important than perfection.
As a former teacher, I have used various strategies to reach a wide spectrum of students and taught multiple grades, skill levels, and subjects. Some students are natural learners like I was, and others can struggle with a topic or even with all of the content. However, the most significant factor in a student's ability to progress with their learning is how willing they are to be taught and participate in the learning process. Through my career shift from teacher to stay-at-home Mom and eventually becoming a faith-based writer, God has opened my eyes to how all that applies to our faith walk. He has drawn me to the significance of being teachable and that we cannot expect Spiritual growth if we do not pursue it.
2 Timothy 3:16-17(NLT) says,
"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."
He has drawn me to the significance of being teachable and that we cannot expect Spiritual growth if we do not pursue it.
God does not call us to sit in our salvation. Instead, scripture says to actively seek God's wisdom and guidance (Proverbs 3:5-6). There is always room for growth and wisdom to glean from God's Word.
To live a life for Christ, we must intentionally pursue a life like Christ. In his letter to the Colossians, Paul expressed his hope and prayer that the church would continually seek to grow and learn. In Colossians 1:9-10 (NLT), Paul says, "So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better."
Learning and growing in our faith requires a commitment to always strive for progress, not perfection. It places Jesus as Lord over our daily lives, giving Him the space to work in and through our hearts. We must be humble enough to recognize that God is in control and trust His faithful provision.
As we wake up every morning, we must intentionally seek ways to grow our faith by prioritizing our time and choosing to connect with Jesus. We cannot be passive bystanders in our spiritual growth. Our Father wants to have a deep, consistent relationship with us. We shouldn't just sprinkle God into our lives when we feel like it. Man, have I been guilty of that! However, our feelings are deceiving, and Satan will use them against us.
God desires to deepen our relationship with Him. He wants us to seek His will and grow our faithfulness toward our Creator. Our heavenly Father has all we need if we only surrender it to Him. But in the end, just like the students who used to enter the doors of my classroom, we cannot be taught if we are not willing to be teachable.
Casey Wayne is a wife and mother of two. She enjoys time with her family doing simple things like movie nights and cooking together. As a devotional writer, Casey strives to share her story with relatable honesty, showing how God is faithful throughout the big and small moments of life. She has a heart for encouraging the faith walk of other moms. Praying they gain a deeper connection with our heavenly Father. Her family lives in the suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia. Connect with Casey at caseywayne.org. You can also find her on Instagram or Facebook @caseylwayne.