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Understanding: Comprehending; apprehending the ideas or sense of another, or of a writing; learning or being informed. The faculty of the human mind by which it apprehends the real state of things presented to it, or by which it receives or comprehends the ideas which others express and intend to communicate. The understanding is called also the intellectual faculty. It is the faculty by means of which we obtain a great part of our knowledge.
Greek: nous[nooce]: mind [21], understanding [3]. probably from the base of (ginosko); the intellect, i.e. mind (divine or human; in thought, feeling, or will); by implication meaning :- mind, understanding. Compare (psuche). Strong's Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary.
When we get born again, the eyes of our understanding are enlightened, and the scriptures are opened to us. In a recent conversation with a friend, we were talking about why Christians get so far off base with their relationship with the Heavenly father. The conclusion was loud and clear. We attend church and begin to listen to all the reasons why something doesn’t work or why God is mad at us, or the Bible is a hard book to understand. The power of God has passed away and we lose our hope for answered prayer. We lose our childlikeness in trusting the father and what He says to us. We get discouraged from reading the Word and the world begins to creep in again and in a few short years our joy, peace and hope have all slipped away.
In fall of 1972, I went back to Miami University to finish up my senior year. I made such a small amount of money that summer that I could not get an apartment by myself. All of my friends had quit school, and it was very hard to make new friends. So, I decided to sleep in my car and “wing it”. I moved my car to various locations on campus, so it didn’t draw attention. I would shower, clean up and do laundry in the dormitories. Some people there had more money to buy ‘booze’ for a weekend than I had for living, insurance, gas, tuition, food, rent and schoolbooks. On top of this mess, I decided to go to class for a 10-week quarter and not buy any books.
The next step in the process was attending very few classes. You are not too presentable sleeping in a car. That brings us to a logical conclusion…failure. I received 3 D’s and 2 F’s that quarter, so things were not looking real good for me in the education world. I really did not want to be in college, but this is ridiculous. I made a decision that I would finish what I started. You know, if you don’t read the books and attend the classes, there is not much hope of you succeeding. You have no knowledge. When the test time comes, and it will, it is not a pleasant event.
This is what the Lord spoke to me about the Christian church. He said, “They have very little classroom attendance {time with Him} and they don’t study my Books. They all want to experience Summa Cum Laude, but that is an event that is impossible with that type of participation. If they want life results of an ‘A’ they have to do their part.” Failure is abounding and we are not willing to make a change. He opened our minds so we can fill it with His knowledge which with use, turns to wisdom. We must use it. There is no plan B’. You will be amazed at the benefits of really knowing your Heavenly Daddy and being a doer of your knowledge.
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