1 00:00:02,660 --> 00:00:13,560 Speaker 1: Life Audio Welcome to the Crosswalk Devotional. We're glad to 2 00:00:13,620 --> 00:00:17,079 Speaker 1: have you listening with us. Today's topic is why God 3 00:00:17,140 --> 00:00:19,640 Speaker 1: wants us to keep learning every day of our lives. 4 00:00:20,280 --> 00:00:22,950 Speaker 1: We'll return with the devotional after a brief message from 5 00:00:23,010 --> 00:00:39,810 Speaker 1: our sponsors. Learn more every day. Written and read by 6 00:00:39,850 --> 00:00:43,970 Speaker 1: Whitney Hopler. Let the wise listen and add to their 7 00:00:43,990 --> 00:00:49,400 Speaker 1: learning and let the discerning get guidance. Proverbs 1 5 NIV. 8 00:00:51,220 --> 00:00:54,620 Speaker 1: Every time a new semester starts at George Mason University, 9 00:00:54,860 --> 00:00:59,220 Speaker 1: where I work, I'm inspired by seeing students excited about learning. 10 00:01:00,180 --> 00:01:03,360 Speaker 1: Watching them walk around campus and hearing them discuss new 11 00:01:03,440 --> 00:01:07,650 Speaker 1: ideas and reminds me that education is a powerful gift. 12 00:01:09,000 --> 00:01:11,740 Speaker 1: It makes me grateful that even though I'm not the 13 00:01:11,860 --> 00:01:17,360 Speaker 1: one taking university classes anymore, my own education never actually ends. 14 00:01:18,260 --> 00:01:21,340 Speaker 1: God is always teaching me something new if I'm just 15 00:01:21,410 --> 00:01:24,470 Speaker 1: willing to keep a clear mind and a teachable heart. 16 00:01:25,690 --> 00:01:29,730 Speaker 1: This back-to-school season reminds us that learning is a lifelong calling. 17 00:01:30,550 --> 00:01:34,300 Speaker 1: And Proverbs 1.5 says, The Bible encourages the wise to 18 00:01:34,420 --> 00:01:37,360 Speaker 1: add to their learning and the discerning to get guidance. 19 00:01:38,690 --> 00:01:41,970 Speaker 1: Truly wise people never reach a point where they decide 20 00:01:42,000 --> 00:01:46,030 Speaker 1: they finally know enough. People who have discernment know they 21 00:01:46,190 --> 00:01:50,130 Speaker 1: always need God's guidance. No matter how old we are, 22 00:01:50,530 --> 00:01:54,370 Speaker 1: how many degrees we hold, or how much career experience 23 00:01:54,410 --> 00:02:00,150 Speaker 1: we've accumulated, God calls us to learn more every day. Unfortunately, 24 00:02:00,730 --> 00:02:03,570 Speaker 1: it's easy for us to let our lives shrink down 25 00:02:03,630 --> 00:02:07,170 Speaker 1: to the level of our to-do lists. Once we finish 26 00:02:07,230 --> 00:02:11,350 Speaker 1: our formal education and settle into our careers and family routines, 27 00:02:12,010 --> 00:02:16,480 Speaker 1: we can easily stop challenging ourselves. We may get comfortable 28 00:02:16,720 --> 00:02:19,920 Speaker 1: living our lives the same ways every day and close 29 00:02:19,980 --> 00:02:24,540 Speaker 1: our minds to fresh perspectives. If we let ourselves become 30 00:02:24,660 --> 00:02:28,280 Speaker 1: overwhelmed by our responsibilities and we can neglect to make 31 00:02:28,360 --> 00:02:32,260 Speaker 1: time for learning and growth in our busy schedules. Then 32 00:02:32,280 --> 00:02:34,460 Speaker 1: we won't be able to learn what God is trying 33 00:02:34,500 --> 00:02:39,239 Speaker 1: to teach us. A stagnant mind leads to a stagnant faith. 34 00:02:40,280 --> 00:02:44,930 Speaker 1: God is infinitely creative, so there's always more of God's 35 00:02:45,010 --> 00:02:49,070 Speaker 1: character to discover and more of God's world to understand. 36 00:02:50,110 --> 00:02:53,250 Speaker 1: When we stop learning, we limit our capacity for God 37 00:02:53,290 --> 00:02:57,280 Speaker 1: to use us in new and exciting ways. So it's 38 00:02:57,340 --> 00:03:00,940 Speaker 1: important to follow the advice in Proverbs 1.5 and add 39 00:03:01,000 --> 00:03:04,540 Speaker 1: to our learning. Every day that God gives us to 40 00:03:04,580 --> 00:03:09,440 Speaker 1: live is a valuable opportunity to learn more. We don't 41 00:03:09,500 --> 00:03:13,079 Speaker 1: need to enroll in graduate school or read massive textbooks 42 00:03:13,220 --> 00:03:16,220 Speaker 1: to add to our learning. We just need to have 43 00:03:16,620 --> 00:03:20,900 Speaker 1: curious and humble attitudes as we go about our daily lives. 44 00:03:21,820 --> 00:03:24,990 Speaker 1: We can learn something new by reading a book. listening 45 00:03:25,030 --> 00:03:27,590 Speaker 1: to a podcast during our commutes to and from work, 46 00:03:28,130 --> 00:03:31,090 Speaker 1: or learning a skill we want to develop, like cooking 47 00:03:31,120 --> 00:03:36,720 Speaker 1: better meals, by asking someone we know to teach us. Spiritually, 48 00:03:36,840 --> 00:03:39,339 Speaker 1: we can add to our learning by studying the Bible, 49 00:03:39,940 --> 00:03:43,600 Speaker 1: taking a wonder walk in nature, or strengthening our prayer 50 00:03:43,660 --> 00:03:48,570 Speaker 1: and meditation practices. Every piece of new inspiration God gives 51 00:03:48,710 --> 00:03:52,190 Speaker 1: us can help us appreciate the wonderful world God has made. 52 00:03:54,740 --> 00:03:57,980 Speaker 1: can lead us to feel awe, because it shows us 53 00:03:58,060 --> 00:04:01,980 Speaker 1: that our human understanding is very small compared to God's 54 00:04:02,220 --> 00:04:07,030 Speaker 1: unlimited knowledge and wisdom. When we approach each day asking 55 00:04:07,070 --> 00:04:10,170 Speaker 1: God to teach us something new that day, we can 56 00:04:10,210 --> 00:04:14,850 Speaker 1: become quicker to listen, slower to judge, and much more 57 00:04:14,950 --> 00:04:20,310 Speaker 1: adaptable to life's changes than we would be otherwise. So 58 00:04:20,440 --> 00:04:23,460 Speaker 1: as the children and young adults in our communities head 59 00:04:23,500 --> 00:04:26,790 Speaker 1: back to school, Let's join them in their commitment to 60 00:04:26,820 --> 00:04:30,609 Speaker 1: learn more. Let's never stop being students of God's truth 61 00:04:31,190 --> 00:04:35,710 Speaker 1: by adding to our learning each and every day. Intersecting 62 00:04:35,790 --> 00:04:40,150 Speaker 1: Faith in Life As you consider why lifelong learning is important, 63 00:04:40,350 --> 00:04:44,839 Speaker 1: reflect on these questions. What's one specific topic that you've 64 00:04:44,860 --> 00:04:48,460 Speaker 1: been wanting to learn more about lately? In what areas 65 00:04:48,500 --> 00:04:51,719 Speaker 1: of your daily routine have you become too comfortable, and 66 00:04:51,760 --> 00:04:55,320 Speaker 1: how can you challenge yourself to grow there? How can 67 00:04:55,360 --> 00:04:58,219 Speaker 1: you create regular time in your busy schedule to acquire 68 00:04:58,260 --> 00:05:02,430 Speaker 1: more knowledge and seek God's guidance more? Think of someone 69 00:05:02,460 --> 00:05:05,760 Speaker 1: in your life who has a very teachable spirit. What 70 00:05:05,870 --> 00:05:08,990 Speaker 1: qualities do you admire most about his or her attitude? 71 00:05:10,170 --> 00:05:13,210 Speaker 1: What's one step you can take today to learn something 72 00:05:13,270 --> 00:05:18,830 Speaker 1: new from a friend, family member, or co-worker? Further reading, 73 00:05:19,350 --> 00:05:30,719 Speaker 1: Proverbs 9.9, Proverbs 18.15 Psalm 119.66 2 Peter 3.18 Philippians 74 00:05:30,720 --> 00:05:37,760 Speaker 1: 1.9 Thanks for listening to today's devotional. 75 00:05:38,040 --> 00:05:39,980 Speaker 2: If you liked what you heard today, we want to 76 00:05:40,020 --> 00:05:43,540 Speaker 2: make sure you know about our sister podcast, Your Daily Prayer. 77 00:05:44,060 --> 00:05:47,520 Speaker 2: When you follow Your Daily Prayer in your favorite podcast app, 78 00:05:47,820 --> 00:05:50,610 Speaker 2: you'll get a brand new prayer and devotional each day, 79 00:05:51,000 --> 00:05:54,530 Speaker 2: so your days begin in conversation with God. If you're 80 00:05:54,550 --> 00:05:57,330 Speaker 2: looking to grow in prayer or start your day with 81 00:05:57,350 --> 00:06:01,040 Speaker 2: your heart focused on the right things, search for Your 82 00:06:01,140 --> 00:06:04,700 Speaker 2: Daily Prayer in your favorite podcast app and be sure 83 00:06:04,720 --> 00:06:07,140 Speaker 2: to follow the show so you get a new prayer 84 00:06:07,200 --> 00:06:09,550 Speaker 2: delivered straight to you each morning. 85 00:06:16,680 --> 00:06:20,140 Speaker 3: Hey friends, it's Kelly from Life Audio. We just launched 86 00:06:20,200 --> 00:06:23,880 Speaker 3: something new. It's called The Good Word, our free weekly 87 00:06:23,940 --> 00:06:26,830 Speaker 3: newsletter built for people who want to go a little 88 00:06:26,870 --> 00:06:32,690 Speaker 3: deeper in their faith. Think devotionals, guided prayers, curated podcast recommendations, 89 00:06:32,870 --> 00:06:36,010 Speaker 3: and a little community all in one place. 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