By Andrew Williams
Philippians 1:9 NLT- I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding.
Good morning, fellow disciples.
A few days ago, when I was looking for verses to write these devotionals, the Lord placed in my spirit the word ‘understanding’. The next thought I had was to look up a Bible verse to use, but the Holy Spirit said to look up the definition. When I saw the definitions, I thought that I had understanding and that I was an understanding person, but when I looked closer, I realized that I’m still a far way from being what these definitions state.
Understanding {the adjective} is defined as:
1. Sympathetically aware of other people’s feelings; tolerant and forgiving, and
2. Having insight or good judgement
Am I understanding?
Am I sympathetically aware of other people’s feelings?
Am I tolerant and forgiving?
Do I have insight and good judgment?
In some ways I am. But when I look at the choices that I’ve made throughout my life, and even recently, I realize that I am not. I admit that I’m a pretty forgiving person, but I’m not very tolerant, and even though I’m aware of other people’s feelings, sometimes I’m not sympathetic towards them.
As I pondered these definitions, I was convicted. I heard the Holy Spirit say, “Pray for understanding and to be understanding.”
Philippians 1:9 NLT says, “I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding.”
We need to grow in understanding!
No matter how much we judge ourselves or think that we have not reached the mark, we need to realize that being understanding, being sympathetically aware of other people’s feelings, and having good judgment and insight is something that we need to continually grow in.
So, are you an understanding person?
Prayer: Father God, help us to be sympathetically aware of other people’s feelings, tolerant, forgiving, and to be full of good judgement and insight. May we be continually growing in understanding, and may we show love one to another that is ever increasing. Amen.
Amen