Article: Tuning in – Adjusting to God’s Will
Whenever I get to translate or interpret into another language (like I did last week in Ikogosi), it is often an exercise of tuning in to the thought process or frequency of the writer or speaker. I am then capable of serving as their mouthpiece in a different language. With biblical content, it generally requires me making less effort – tuning up by making slight adjustments. Two of last week’s speakers (including my wife) spoke on subjects that were a bit more technical/professional – those required more effort to tune in.
The fantastic thing about spiritual disciplines like Bible study, prayer, meditation, etc is that they allow us to level up with God’s thought process, adjusting our lives to His perfect will and even understanding His very heart or motives.
The apostle Paul was a champion in these disciplines. His prayer requests, for instance, were often entirely different from the way I tend to pray. I usually see the need to tune in especially in the content of my conversations with God. To learn how to pray in line to His will. (1 John 5:14-15).
Paul’s letters are profound and I have often wondered what role his time in Arabia played in bringing out such amazing insights especially on the topic of God’s grace. He seemed to have mastered it. Could this season in Paul’s life speak to the power of solitude or quiet time? (Gal. 1:15-18).
May our prayer and thought-lives be tuned in! May our understanding of God’s Word through deep study be a faithful interpretation as we tune in to grasp His good and perfect will for our lives.
(2 Tim 3:16-17; Ephesians. 1:15-18).
