A Live Experience
I hate learning new songs.
Hebrews 4:1-13
Reference: v.2 For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith. (NIV Bible)
Explore: I'm not the kind of person who can pick up a song really quickly. A mate of mine only has to hear a song played twice on the radio before he knows all the words. I am quite the opposite. It takes me a couple of times of hearing the song just to know whether I like it or not. And then if I want to be able to ever sing along with the words I have to make a concerted effort to really listen to the song and play it over and over all in a row. Because of this, I hate learning new songs. I like to be able to sing along with everyone else, but it always feels like I'm about 10 weeks behind! That is, unless I hear the song live. If I'm at a conference or a live concert I find that I pick up the song much more quickly. I think there's something about experiencing the whole atmosphere that helps me to connect more with the song. I've found that if I have an experience of the song then it connects with me more and I'm able to pick it up almost as quickly as everyone else.
Application: In one sense, this is the same when it comes to learning more about God. I can read about his faithfulness and I can hear people talking about their understanding of God's faithfulness but until I experience it for myself, then it is like a song I have only heard once and have not really picked up. But when I go through a difficult time and rely on God it is then that I see that He truly is faithful to those who love Him. It is in my experience of God that I learn more about Him. But I have to be open to experiencing God. Just like I have to put in the hard yards to learn a new song, I also have to put in the hard yards to experience God. I need to keep reading God's word, learning more about Him and spending time talking to Him. Then, when a situation occurs and I put my faith into action, it's then that all that I have learned becomes real and I experience God in a deeper way.
Prayer: Lord, I really want to experience You in more of a real way. Help me to be diligent with my faith so that I can truly experience Your love and faithfulness. Amen.
What area of your faith do you find is a struggle?
This article was written by Linda Bailey
Linda started theological studies in 1999 in Australia. After working for ten years in various church ministries, she now works as the breakfast producer at 89.9 LightFM - the Christian radio station in Melbourne, Australia. She writes blogs every day about passages she is currently reading in the Bible. Follow her on Google Plus +Linda Bailey or Facebook by clicking the like button on the right of this page.