Although I chuckled at my kindergarten students’ responses, I counted their eagerness to listen as a predictor of learner success.
Years ago, I’d designed a lesson on evaporation. The five-year-olds noticed the water level in our uncovered classroom aquarium was lower than usual. I asked, “What do you think happened to the water?”
Stacey guessed I’d scooped some out, and Adrian asked if the aquarium had leaked. Then Brian bounced up and down and yelled, “I know, I know. The fish drank it.”
Stephanie folded her arms and said, “No, they didn’t, Brian. Mrs. Waters, tell us what really happened to the water.” Twenty-five little wiggly bodies paused, tilted their faces toward mine, and waited for an answer.
What if we began each day, hearts tilted toward Jesus, our Teacher, with the enthusiasm of my kindergarten students?
At this time of year, students and teachers prepare to meet new challenges. Each season of learning requires an eager mind set and determination to discover truth.
You and I may not enroll in a class this month, but when the sun rises each morning, new opportunities unfurl to delight in God’s presence and marvel at His lessons. Filled with enthusiasm for learning, we can ask God to transform our hearts as we study the Bible.
When the sun rises each morning, new opportunities unfurl to delight in God’s presence and marvel at His lessons. Click To Tweet
Let’s pray each morning with the psalmist,
Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law.
Psalm 119:18 NKJV*
Are you ready for a new season of learning with God? Sharpen your pencils and note any verses or ideas below that resonate with you.
Four P’s for Eager Students of God’s Word
1. Pray.
We can ask God to teach us what we need to learn. He may remind us of a lesson we’ve forgotten, lead us into deeper study of a familiar passage, or show us verses we haven’t studied before. I like to pray words of Scripture like these:
Show me Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation. On You I wait all the day.
Psalm 25:4-5
Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, for in You do I trust. Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to You.
Psalm 143:8
2. Prepare your heart.
Receptive students who understand the relevance of a lesson learn best. When we humble ourselves and admit our need for God’s daily guidance, our hearts open to His teaching. He promises to forgive confessed sin and instruct us.
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.
Psalm 32:8
3. Position yourself to listen.
Jesus’ followers and curious bystanders gathered to listen when He taught on the hillsides. Surely, their homes and occupations held numerous tasks, but they paused and positioned themselves to hear Jesus speak.
When Jesus visited the home of Lazarus, Martha complained about Mary’s failure to help with meal preparation. Jesus honored Mary’s choice to sit at His feet and listen to His teaching (Luke 10:38-42).
Mary, the disciples, and the hillside crowd shouldered daily responsibilities like we do. The stance or location matters not, but we each need time to meet with God. What’s the best time and place for you?
4. Ponder biblical lessons you learn.
Meditate on the verses or passages you study and record in a journal what God teaches you. Ask Him to transform your heart with His Word.
James 1:22 reminds us, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only.”
Ponder these questions:
- How will I obey His words and honor Him today?
- How will my walk with Jesus change because of this passage?
- In what ways will my study lead to a more victorious life with Christ?
- Armed with Truth, how will the Light of Jesus shine from my life this week?
- How will the sword of the Spirit, God’s Word, help me fight spiritual battles (Ephesians 6:11-17)?
Are you ready for a new season of learning with God?
Let us hear from you
Won’t you contribute to our “class discussion?” The Bible says, “Iron sharpens iron,” to remind us we need each other.
What makes you eager to learn from God? How do you tune your ears and position yourself to hear from Him each day? We’re eager to hear your answers.
*All verses are taken from the NKJV.
Would you like to pray for students and teachers as they begin a new school year? Here’s a former blog post on the topic: https://jeanniewaters.com/blog/three-ways-you-can-influence-the-lives-of-hundreds-pray-for-schools-in-your-community/
Love this post. As we gear up for Fall Bible studies your points are perfect to remind us we are doing more than attending a class and completing a lesson in a book.
You’re right, Marilyn. With open hearts , we can learn what God wants to teach, and His ways are much higher than ours. Thank you for reading.
Love this message! I “rise and shine” every morning and “give God the glory”. 🙂
Thank you, Melissa. I love your response, “I ‘rise and shine’ every morning and “give God the glory”. That’s a perfect way to start our day and help us keep our focus on Him.Then we’re prepared to learn whatever He wants to teach us.
I really love this post, Jeannie! It’s perfect for me to read as I begin a new week and there’s a little nip in the air reminding me a new season has begun.
Thanks!
I remember the enthusiasm of kindergarteners and I so admire their teachers. I should have guessed you’d be part of that elite group of patient and loving teachers for those precious little people. Thank you for this inspiring message for us to have that joy and enthusiasm in learning and the reminder to prayer for our children and teachers.
Katherine, those kinders were a joyful bunch, always eager to learn. I taught all ages from five to adults, but I must say the five-year-olds were the most enthusiastic. I want to be just that eager to hear from God everyday. As you know, teachers and students need our prayer support. I appreciate your comments.
Beautiful comment ,Katherine. 👌 😃
“Position yourself to listen”: How necessary and how difficult to accomplish! First rule for listening (in my opinion) is shut your mouth. Our mouth and our ears do not work well when in use at the same time.
Peggy, I’m smiling and agreeing our mouth and ears don’t work well at the same time. Scripture tells us to praise God, thank Him, and share our requests, but we also need time to listen.
Children can be great examples to all of us adults. That’s probably why Jesus used them to teach His disciples and tell us to come to Him as a little child. Their eagerness to learn shows us how we should never lose that willingness to listen and ponder His words. Thanks for the “P’s” to help us get in the right mindset.
You’re right about children serving as examples for us sometimes—especially in their eagerness to learn about an area of interest. God has so much to teach us. May our eagerness sharpen our willingness to learn from Him.
Love this list Ms. Jeannie, and could just see those little guys and girl wriggling around awaiting your answer. Yes, we should approach God’s throne with that same sense of anticipation of good and wise understanding arriving soon. God’s blessings ma’am. I pray God is still using you in church or elsewhere as a teacher. What a wonderful gift it must be to help people learn.
Thank you, J. D. I see myself wiggling around like a little child sometimes when I should sit still and prepare to hear lessons from God. I now enjoy teaching ladies who are learning English. They’re eager students.
You give us some great challenges here, but you don’t leave us without tools to meet them. Thank you!
Thanks so much, Annie. I’m often like a wiggly child who needs to sit still to listen and learn from God. I’m glad you found value in the post.
I loved your four “p” for us to follow. I will be praying for all the teachers and students as they begin a new school year. May the Lord bless.
Yvonne, teachers and students need prayer as the year begins. I’m glad you’re praying for them. I hope to increasingly become a better student of God’s Word.
As a former early childhood teacher, I appreciated and enjoyed your analogy with a kindergarten class eager to learn. You had me grinning ear-to-ear. Spending time each day in silence and solitude best position me to hear from God.
Last week as I traveled with others, silence and solitude were hard to come by. So I had to be more intentional about it. Praying certainly helped!
Candyce, I agree with your suggestion we have to be intentional to find “silence and solitude.” I find the earlier in the day I meet with God, the smoother my day goes. Trials may arise, but reminders from His Word guide me when I’ve spent valuable time in prayer and Bible study. Thanks so much for commenting.
Such a cute story of those kindergartners. Your 4 Ps should help all of us to be “eager students of God’s Word.” I always appreciate your insightful and practical suggestions, Jeannie!
I appreciate your comments so much, Kathy. I wish I had the energy of my former students, but time in God’s Word and prayer do add a spring to our step and lead us to seek and follow Him through each day.
Jeannie, you provide excellent points. I thought of “Be present.” In other words show up and be fully there when I spend time with the Lord.
Debbie, thank you for this important addition. It’s easy to allow stray thoughts from our busy lives to muffle the sound of God’s voice in our hearts. I appreciate your valuable comment.