In this passage we see the importance of spending time getting to know God. We become closer to Him as we spend time in His Word, in prayer and contemplation, in fellowship with other believers, and in worship. We can not know God nor understand His words of wisdom without spending time with Him. We cannot discern His Will if we do not seek Him daily. Our daily quiet times of seeking Him are not just for our own benefit - it is also for the benefit of others.
As a teacher, I spend time preparing lessons so that I can find the best approach to take in teaching my students. I think about what would work best in teaching a new concept. I consider what types of difficulties or questions the students might have with the topic of study. I plan how I can best communicate very technical terminology to my students by relating it to something they might already be familiar with. I can't just walk into my Precalculus classes or Statistics classes and teach cold turkey - with no preparation at all. I wouldn't have any forsight for trouble students might have with the material. I wouldn't be prepared with alternative explanations if they don't understand. I wouldn't have additional examples that drive home the concept. I wouldn't be able to tie in the new material with past knowledge. I wouldn't have a logical progression of concepts and examples that build upon one another. I wouldn't have leading questions to help them connect the dots and draw correct conclusions on their own. I simply wouldn't be as effective of a teacher if I didn't plan my lessons in advance. I would be a disservice to my students. It would be a disaster!
Let's translate this idea to the Christian walk. If we are ill prepared as Christians, then how can we be ready to 'give a quick answer'? If we don't seek God daily then how can we know His words of wisdom in order to comfort others? If we don't know His words of wisdom and awaken to Him morning by morning, then how can we understand His will? How could we confirm or communicate His will to others when we don't know it ourselves? How can we tell others about Christ if we don't know why we believe what we believe?We can't just 'wing it'! Our faith just doesn't work that way! We must get to know our Lord. Thouh our finite minds can not know every single thing about our INFINITE and GLORIOUS LORD, we can still come to KNOW Him and His will!
I love the idea that God awakens us morning by morning, opening our eyes to understanding His will. I think of my sweet children as babies, soundly sleeping as the rays of dawn's first light peeked through their windows. How excited I was to see their little eyes flicker open and be the recipient of their first smile of the day! I loved swooping them into my arms, covering them with kisses. I loved the feel of their little arms responding to me with tiny hugs. I wonder if this is how our Lord feels about us. How precious is the thought of Him expectantly waiting for us to wake each morning, patient to share with us the first cherished moments of the day! How often do we respond in kind, delighted to share with Him our first smile, responding to Him in love?
Morning by morning HE awakens you. Make being with Him a priority in your day - for both your sake and for the sake of others. Grace and peace, friends!
In His Love, Cathy