Remain Teachable, Don’t Quit, Keep Learning
To keep learning is a great way to understand God and yourself. Carol Harrison believes that being teachable is a trait that great leaders of the Bible display.
What have you learned lately? We would love to hear from you. Share your comment below or contact us at HopeStreamRadio.
Words are Powerful
Words are powerful. They can pull us down or build us up They can discourage or encourage. They can remind us of a lesson learned or a promise given. In 2018, I attended Inscribe Christian Writers’ Fellowship fall conference. The key note speaker, Ann Margaret Hovsepian, in one of her presentations gave us a few words that were meant to challenge and encourage us.
Simple Sounding Pairs
I remembered those simple sounding pairs of words and thought about them quite often during these months since the conference finished.
Remain Teachable
Don’t Quit
Keep Learning
And then I thought of several more for myself
Be Flexible
Have Courage
I love learning and always have but there are times I want to do things my own way and don’t remain teachable. I need to have a soft heart and learn from others who are further along in their life journey than I am, or their writing path or whatever fits for your life and circumstances.
The Negative Monkey
When things don’t work like I think they should or I want them to, when the negative monkey voice starts chattering so loudly it’s hard to hear positive and hard to hear God’s still small voice, I need to remember those words Don’t Quit. When I procrastinate and want to give up I need to remember those two little words – Don’t quit. Then words of positive affirmation and encouragement quiet the negative internal voice and remind me that our life is a marathon not a sprint. Projects can be like that too – long term not done in a few moments. It is worth staying the course and not quitting using our gifts and abilities to encourage others. Our challenge remains Don’t Quit.
Life can change in a moment. Our plans can go off track when unexpected things happen. I need to remember to Be Flexible whether with my schedules, the timing to complete a project or in lessons I am learning along the way. I don’t want to be so rigid in my plans and schedules that I miss God appointments along the way.
More We Can Learn
We need to realize that no matter how much we already know there is more we can learn. When I lead workshops on public speaking, people tell me it’s easy for me but I tell them there is always more I can learn and then practice. They can improve too with time and practice.
I believe learning should last a lifetime and so the challenge to Keep Learning – about your craft, your skills, yourself and especially about God and His Word.
Tough Stuff Becomes Prominent
Sometimes the puzzle pieces of life get mixed up and the picture appears dark as pieces of tough stuff become prominent. During those tough times we might feel like life is so hard we can’t keep learning . We want to curl into a ball and pull the covers over our heads. We want to quit. We don’t have the energy to be teachable but at times like this we need to know we are not alone. Others struggle too. We also need to know that the God of the Bible is still God today.
Gideon and His Struggles
In Judges 6 we meet Gideon who is hiding in a winepress just trying to thresh some grain and keep it from the Midianites who were destroying Israel. Life sure wasn’t easy for him – in fear for his everyday needs being met. Yet he wasn’t alone in his struggles for the entire nation was fearing the bully tactics of the Midianites. But God heard their cries and had a plan. In verse 12 the angel God sent says to Gideon, “The Lord is with you mighty warrior.” I can just imagine Gideon looking around to see who this angel was talking to for it couldn’t have been him. But it was. God used Gideon and three hundred men to defeat the army so vast the Bible tells us it couldn’t be numbered. Have courage Gideon. The Lord is with you.
Joshua Becomes The Leader
In Joshua 1 we see Joshua becoming the leader of the Israelite people about to enter the Promised Land with its walled cities and fighting men.
In verse 5 God says, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Then in verse 6 he commands Joshua to Be strong and courageous. He repeats those words in verse 7 and 8 – Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified. Do not be discouraged.
Joshua did not know what was coming next he just knew he was to follow God and be strong and courageous for God would always be with him.
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Light and Dark
There are times the puzzle pieces of my life are full of darkness and seem all mixed up. I don’t understand why things are happening. Life makes me want to hide out and hope it all goes away. At other times there is a brightness and happy memory making moments and the pieces of life seem to line up well. I need to think of the words that God spoke to Joshua and remember that the God of the Bible is still God today. He will help me Remain Teachable, Don’t Quit, Keep Learning, Be Flexible and Have Courage.
What words resonate with you? What challenges are you facing that you need encouragement to know that you are not alone – God hears your cries and in his time he will send the answer. In the meantime Be strong and Courageous.
Carol Harrison
Listen to Carol’s program Puzzle Pieces Of Life.
Carol Harrison B.Ed is a speaker and published author with one book, Amee’s Story and stories in twelve anthologies. She is passionate about helping people of all ages and ability levels find their voice and reach their fullest potential.
She knows, through personal experience that some of life’s experiences are tougher than others. She encourages people that even in the twists and turns of life God’s amazing grace provides hope. She lives in Saskatoon, SK with her husband Brian. They have four adult children and a dozen grandchildren.
Visit Carol’s website carolscorner.ca
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