Thoughts for the Day

O God, from my youth you have taught me,
and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds.
So even to old age and grey hairs
O God, do not forsake me,
until I proclaim your might
to all the generations to come.
Your power and your righteousness O God,
reach the heavens.

(New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Can you remember old sayings that you learnt as a child? My head sometimes seems to be full of them:

"I want, doesn't get!"
"Every cloud has a silver lining!"
"Never give up hope!"
"Love isn't love until you give it away!"
"You're the bees knees!"
"Silly billy!"

These are just a few but periodically a new one pops into my mind, and I can hear my mother saying it. I learnt so much at my mother's knee, not least about God.

We learn in many different ways by: watching others; making our own mistakes; reading instructions; asking others etc. Each of us has our best way of learning. I remember once being in a study group with the Director of Education and the Bishop. The leader asked us to think about what we did when we got a 'new' car. It turned out that all but two of us looked at the manual, but the Bishop and I would just get in the car and drive. The problem came when we left the office in the evening and couldn't work out how to put on the lights, and couldn't see the handbook in the dark!

It's similar with learning about God - He teaches us in different ways: by reading the bible; observing another Christian; finding out more about the meaning of bible stories; conversation with God (prayer); being taught by someone; contemplating the natural world; or by going to church.

How did you first learn about God? How do you learn about God now?

Tuesday 23rd June, follow up thoughts

Lord God
You teach us in so many ways
if only we will be observant
and watch for your instruction.
Help us to continue learning more about
You and Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ
through the power of the Spirit,
so that we may grow ever closer to You.
Amen.