Being Ready to Take Action

All the studying in the world, and all the meditation on God's will won't do a bit of good if you aren't ready to take some action. If you aren't ready to do what he needs you to do or wants you to do, then all the intensive learning is worthless.

The definition of learning is: knowledge or skill acquired by instruction or study, and modification of a behavioral tendency by experience. We definitely need to gain knowledge and acquire skills. Being able to defuse anger and increase patience are all learned behaviors. But we should also be modifying our behavior. We should be putting our knowledge to practical usage and not just keeping it in our head.

You can "know" lots of things, but if you don't apply them you won't get the results you are looking for. Years and years of automatic behavior can be difficult to alter. One day I will have a huge revelation and it is like the light is shining down on me and I "get it". Only to have myself slip right back to where I was.

The whole purpose is not to fill my head with lots of information that is just going to sit there. Unless I suddenly get called to be on a trivia game show, this is not a help to me. My purpose is to grow spiritually and have more loving relationships with others and with God.

"Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." Matthew 22:36-40

So, as I am learning and growing, I am working hard to also apply what I am learning. I am making strides in some areas, struggling in others and failing miserably in others, still. I sometimes feel like I am taking the "two steps forward and one step back". I just have to keep remembering that it is far better than taking no steps forward and simply going backward.

Resources
Day 67 - When It Should Be All About You In The Marriage

Bible Gateway - Matthew 22

Merriam Webster - Definition of Learning