An Understanding Heart

“…turning your ear to wisdom

and applying your heart to understanding,”

Proverbs 2:2 NIV

When my husband and I were raising our children there were a few things that we wanted them to recognize as constants in our home. We also wanted them to adopt the priorities that we were trying to instill in them. We desired that they would come to value the same things that we valued. When talking to them we would sometimes start the conversation by saying, “Now listen, this is important!” We wanted our children to develop an understanding heart for what we considered to be important.

God is very much the same way. He wants me to develop an understanding for the important things that I need to know. God says, listen, and turn your ears to hear my wisdom. God’s wisdom is the exact opposite of what the world teaches and there is absolutely no godly wisdom to be found in the value system of the world. God reminds me that when I hear his wisdom I must apply that wisdom to my heart and then it will become understanding.

Today I am thinking about some of the things that I believe God wants me to understand.

Paula, Life is not about you – it is about me.
You were created to bring me joy.
I love you and I want you to love me in return.
I want you to share my love with others.
Paula, your brief time spent here on earth is simply preparing you for eternity.
The refinement of your character is what prepares you for heaven and brings glory to me.
It is through your brokenness that you will be changed.
I will be your helper and it is possible for you to overcome every difficulty.
I will never leave you or forsake you because you belong to me.
Paula, when you choose to overcome this life you will receive eternal rewards.
Be joyful because Jesus is coming again!
Learn my truths and apply them to your heart.

I have been noticing that the longer I have been a Christian the more I love knowing God’s ways. I also find that at times I do understand some of the things that God wants me to understand. I have to admit that there are some things on the above list that bother me. One of those things is the part about my life needing to be totally about God instead of me. I really do want my life to be about God, but frequently in times of stress, fear, and anger, I fall back into the habit of my life being all about me. However, those selfish thoughts do not need to be the end of the story. I always have the choice of rethinking the situation and asking the Holy Spirit to help me redirect my thoughts and my attitudes.

Questions:

Do you understand the things that God thinks are important?

Where are you lacking understanding in your relationship with God?

Have you asked God for understanding?


Prayer:

Dear God,

Please forgive me for the sin of self centeredness. God I don’t think I will ever be able to love you as much as you love me. Thank you for reminding me how important it is to share my faith with others. God I do not desire to experience brokenness, but when it comes I pray for your help as I move toward the necessary submission that is needed for me to accept your will above my own desire. Thank you God for your faithful promise, that you will never leave me or forsake me.

In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen.