Praying To Be Teachable Going Into This New Season

 As things open up more and more with the pandemic waning – we hope – we will all have things to learn and put into practice as we spend more time with one another again in work, in church, in play, in socializing around the community.

One of the most dangerous characteristics of life is the mindset where we think we know what is needed.  We know what's wrong.  We know what everyone else did wrong and that resulted in troubles.  We are quick to judge and strongly criticize everyone and everything except ourselves.  We have things to teach others if only they were willing to learn!! 

For you are great and perform wonderful deeds.  You alone are God.  Teach me your ways, O Lord, that I may live according to your truth!  Grant me purity of heart, so that I may honor you.  With all my heart I will praise you, O Lord my God.  I will give glory to your name forever, for your love for me is very great.  You have rescued me from the depths of death. Psalm 86:10-13

Successful living and relating well to others requires that we take a new approach.  We humbly recognize that the person needing to be taught a thing or two is ourselves.  We come to realize that we need God to show us what a good way of life looks like, because our way of doing things is taking us to the “depths of death.”  We need God’s strength to change our ways.  We also need God to give us the will and desire to walk in these new ways. 

Heavenly Father, if we’ve learned anything in these long months of the pandemic it’s that everything we need doesn't come in a pretty package every day of our life.  It's in the ups and downs of day-to-day living that we come to know ourselves and Your faithful goodness in our lives.

Wise leaders and trusted friends help us recognize both our character defects and our giftings and we pray to have ears to hear what they are telling us.  But ultimately it is Your word that gives us clear directions, so we can determine how our way of living lines up with Your trustworthy instructions. 

It’s also true that none of this has power unless we have a teachable spirit and with a humble heart put into practice what we have learned.  So, along with the writer of the Psalm we read a minute ago, we need to ask You God to teach us Your ways, so we can live according to Your truth.  That’s the road to peace and joy and success today. 

Give us hearts that are pure before You.  Help us to practice gratitude because that seems to help to open our eyes to Your presence and truth in the moments and situations we find ourselves in. One step at a time throughout this day, please show Your way.  Lead us by your truth and teach us, for you are the God who saves us.  We put our hope in you because Your love for us is very great and we desire to honour Your name. Amen