273 – A Prayer for Understanding

#faithbites #faithjourney understanding

In my life, I like to learn. I am willing to listen to anyone and try to understand where they are coming from. There are times when I think they are off their rocker as I don’t believe in what they believe, but I try to listen and have a deep understanding for who they are. In most cases, there is something that happened to them for why they believe what they believe. The same can be said for people who believe what I believe.

In the case of a certain worldview, most people have that view through something that happened to them. Only through active listening and understanding, can we figure out what that is. Once we do, then we can understand. (Understanding does not equal belief or acceptance)

In the case of faith and God, most people found their faith through an experience. Only through active listening and understanding, can we figure out what that is. Once we do, then we can understand. (Understanding does not equal belief or acceptance)

Even the internet trolls out there have a truth for what they believe. Only through active listening and understanding, can we figure out what that is. Once we do, then we can understand. (Understanding does not equal belief or acceptance).

I pray for us all understand better. Then we can build a relationship from that point.

Scripture on Understanding

• Now the whole world had one language and a common speech.  As people moved eastward, they found a plain in Shinar and settled there.

  They said to each other, “Come, let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar. Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.”

  But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower the people were building. The Lord said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.” – Genesis 11:1-7

• “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone” – Colossians 4:5-6

Reflection

Language is an interesting thing. In the Tower of Babel story above, we see that there was one language until God changed that due to man’s hubris. They all spoke one language and worked to think they were better than the Lord. Today through technology and globalization we have the ability to speak one language but we are still separated. We don’t understand what is meant behind the words. That is the issue in many cases. Through deep love and understanding, we can learn about the person.

In the Colossians verse, we are told still to be wise on how we treat outsiders (unbelievers). We should be full of grace but learn how to answer everyone.

I am no saint. I mess up all the time and let my emotions get int he way. Imagine if we understood the root of why people believe they believe. No, we can’t “save” everyone. Trust me, there are some people who I want nothing to do with at all once I know why they believe what they believe. But, through that dialogue, we do grow. We get closer to the commandment of Love God, Love People.

Charge

In life, we will run into so many people who are not like us. Those who scare us, humiliate us, love us, respect us, and challenge us. All of those beliefs and actions have a root. See if you can understand why they act the way they do. Try to better understand why uou do what you do. This isn’t perfect and takes work. But imagine if we understood everyone’s rationale.

Lord, I pray for the world. I pray for a deeper understanding on why we act the way we do. Help us to understand each other’s motives. Allow us to know that you are there with us even when we don’t agree with what is said or what the person believes. Aloos us to treat others with Grace.