Ray Of Hope 4 U: 10/06/10

Why We Learn the Hard Way

"Simpletons only learn the hard way, but the wise learn by listening." from Proverbs 21:10-16 (The Message)

Sister P told me just recently, “Ray I told you not to trust… but now you have to learn the hard way.

Most of us would prefer to learn by listening, but if we're honest, most of us learn by messing up. Every deep lesson I have learned in life has come at a cost. It's only after kicking myself for my stupidity that the message registers. That really is learning the hard way.

But after I have learned the hard way, then, and only then, I will recall the wise words of Sister P, who wanted to teach me that very same lesson with some good advice. I should have listened to her. But I wasn't open to it at the time.

Maybe you have to learn the hard way, by messing up, before you can learn the wise way, by listening.

Or perhaps we are all learning both ways at the same time. When we make a mistake, we don't have to collapse and wallow in our own stupidity. We don't have to blame others. We don't have to remain simpletons. Instead we can learn by listening.

After a failure, we can listen to our own lives. We can listen for the Holy Spirit in the middle of the mess, and end up with a wise mess-age. Perhaps, after learning the hard way, we can listen to God and learn the right way.

Like in the bible God always has a warning. Pray to God and listen to him through his word, his people and your mistakes. This might just make us more open to learning the easy way.

Father, could you adjust my lesson plan, so that I am spending more time listening to you and less time learning the hard way? Who should I be listening to? Are you speaking to me through my own life? You have my attention. I'm really listening today. Amen.

Today’s Promise

The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Psalm 18:2 (NIV)

1. West Coast Prayerline - 712-451-6000. Access code 281432#. Meeting times daily@ 6am Mon – Sun and 9pm Mon – Fri. (Facilitated by Elder Michael Blue & Elder Wanda Flowers.)

2. East Coast Prayerline - 605-990-0700. Access code 503942#. Meeting times @ 6am and 9pm weekdays and 6:30am weekends. (Facilitated by Chris Brooks). You can also visit www.gracefam.org.

3. San Francisco Prayerline - 641 297 4600. Access code is 7792#. Meeting times daily @ 6:30am Mon – Sun (Facilitated by Sis. Grant and Elder Wanda Flowers)

4. CPR Prayerline - - 218 862 1000. Access

code is 259188#. Meeting times @ 9pm Sunday to Friday (Times are EST: Facilitated by Yvette Stoute.)

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