Growing Deep Devotion #3

1.3 Learning and Adapting 
Devotion:
God has created us as human beings with a sense of inquisitiveness, wondering, questioning, and creativity. Deep within the human psyche is a desire to grow, learn, and in the process change.  Yet equally powerful for some is the desire to hang on, retain and resist any semblance of change.  Each of us as human beings are creatures of habit.  We change when we have to, but for many we want to hang onto what we have and resist efforts to make us change.  It takes intention and purpose to strike the balance between hanging onto what is really important yet at the same time being open to change in our thinking, learning and understanding.  As Christian educators, we of all people recognise that change is necessary for us to grow as people and be the community God intends us to be.
 
Paul writes to the Christian community in Rome; Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Don't copy the behaviour and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think (Romans 12:2 NLT). Our worldview has changed forever with God’s entry into the cosmos.  Jesus coming back to life from the dead means we are a new creation.  The old has gone; our lives are no longer the same. Dying and rising, repentance, changing old habits are all patterns of a new way of living, thinking, doing and being.  As God changes us we are opened and transformed by the new life Christ brings us.  This cannot but effect all the teaching and learning we do.  As the world constantly changes around us we are transformed by God.
 
As a Jewish boy, Jesus grew in wisdom and understanding.  He engaged in learning and change in his thinking and understanding.  When he began his public ministry he called twelve adult learners to follow and listen. To those who called him Rabbi, Jesus changed their old ways of thinking about God, the Scriptures and the world. The disciples adapted to a new way of being with the help of the Holy Spirit.  They were transformed as Jesus changed their old way of being.  How open are you to the process of transformation and renewing of your mind? Can God change the way you think and act?  It takes faith and courage to be open to this sort of change by God.  But it is necessary if we are to be people who are willing to learn and adapt throughout our lives and influence the people around us to likewise change and learn.  
 
Activity:

• Reflect on a time when you had to undergo great change in your thinking or in your life. What lead to that change and your willingness to undergo it?
• How open are you to change generally?
• Does your faith, your spiritual values help or hinder you from adapting to change and growing through it?

 
Prayer:
Holy Spirit, teach me to change my old patterns of thinking to what is needed for me to learn and adapt to the students, the families, the colleagues and the culture I work in. Make me a willing student ready to learn and adapt from every person and situation I experience. Give me a willing spirit and create in me a new heart Jesus. Amen.