
"We cannot experience a different life beyond our current level of understanding."
Have you ever wonder what determines the quality of your life? Aside from the unexpected circumstances of life that we cannot control, what governs or controls the type of life you have? It is understanding. I believe that our approach and the way we interact with life is a direct result of our level of understanding. All human behavior comes from thoughts and emotions, but where do those thoughts and emotions come from, if not from their understanding and beliefs about life? The way we live life, the things we value, our morals, our principles, the way we dress, the way we talk, the way we do things, how we use and spent our time, our relationships, how we treat others, our hobbies, the things we feel strongly about and believe, the ideas we hold and follow, our views and opinions, whether we exercise or not, the things we regularly eat, our water intake, I mean even our dental hygiene for Christ sake!—hahaha—everything about our life is all governed by the way we perceive, view and comprehend life.
Metaphorically understanding is both, the ground floor from which we build our life and the lid that is blocking our potential. The floor, because every decision we make in our life, we make them based on what we understand. We are the sum total of all the decisions we make in life, and all those decisions are made based on what we believe and perceive. In other words, understanding determines the quality of all the decisions you make. Can you think of one decision you made in the past three, five or nine years, had you had a better level of understanding of things, your life today would looked much different? Please don't confuse information for understanding now. It's possible—and it happens all the time—to have the correct information, and yet still make the wrong decision. Why? Because people do not make decisions based on what they know but rather on what they understand. Information is intellectual activity, understanding is emotional activity. People do not think with their minds, people think with their hearts. The sad truth though, is that our understanding can be completely wrong about something, and yet, that is the determining factor of all our decision-making. Next, understanding is the lid, because as individuals and society as a whole, we cannot experience a different life beyond our current level of understanding. Why do you think people constantly feel stuck? Like they can't grow beyond their current circumstances or maximize their potential? People will change everything about their life, except the only thing that is blocking their growth. You cannot have a level nine life with a level three mentality. I think this is one of the reasons why the personal development industry is so successful, because they help people become aware and understand their God-given potential. Those people must know that your life is the reflection of your understanding level.
"If you want to change the way you live life, you must change the way you view and comprehend life."
Why am I talking or blogging about this? Well, actually this is a topic that I did not came up with. I literally started this blog writing about a completely different subject, but for some reason I felt that in order for me to convey my original idea, people needed to become aware about the importance of understanding first. As I kept writing, I felt like I was so "off topic," that I started asking the Holy Spirit and after a few days, that's when I realized that this subject was coming directly from Him. I felt this whisper in my heart, as if someone was telling me, "I want people to understand, that their lack of understanding about life, is what is hindering them to walk and live in my promises. I want people to walk and live in my promises but their lack of understanding is preventing them to do so." After the Holy Spirit spoke those words in my heart, for the very first time I came across this verse in the Bible that reads, "they are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts"(1). The Word and the Spirit here are literally explaining why people are "separated from the life of God." This verse clearly explains or highlights three truths: (1) a person's understanding gets darkened because of their own ignorance, (2) a person's level of ignorance is the result of a hardened or prideful heart, and (3) when a person's understanding is full of ignorance, it will always prevent them from having a life. This is literally crazy and shocking to me! The only thing that is preventing you and me from experiencing and living the abundant life(2) that Jesus promised, is our own level of ignorance or our lack of understanding. The Holy Spirit knows and wants you to know that, if you want to change the way you live life, you must change the way you view and comprehend life. This is what the Apostle Paul was teaching when he wrote, "be transformed by the renewing of your [understanding], that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God,"(3). How can you test and prove that the will of God is good, acceptable and perfect? Again, by renewing and changing your understanding or the way you comprehend, view and perceive God.
"Ignorance will always prevent you from living and walking in the promises of God."
To conclude, the definition of understanding in the context of the Bible is the ability to comprehend what is right and pleasing to God based on godly information and promptings from the Holy Spirit. When a person's understanding is full of the light of God and his knowledge, this person is equipped to do two things: (1) do the right thing or what is right in the eyes of God, which automatically leads to (2) and that is to have, experience and walk in the life of God. The only method to experience and have the life of God in you is by growing in your knowledge of God. Knowledge will always increase your awareness and comprehension level to follow into the life of God. Ignorance will always prevent you from living and walking in His promises. Do you know what the words, "darkness" and "light" represent in the Bible? The word "darkness" is a metaphor for ignorance, while "light" is the word for knowledge. How do you think the devil has gain so much influence on this world? Because his kingdom is the kingdom of darkness. The devil rules his kingdom under the ignorance of people. In any area of life that you are ignorant, you are operating under the influence of the devil. Why do you think that the entertainment industry it's so massive, popular and ever-growing? It's the devil perfected strategy to keep people away from seeking information and find ways to better themselves. It's this type of ignorance or darkness that separates people from the life of God. In the kingdom of God, also called the kingdom of light, is a kingdom that operates on revelation and knowledge. Knowledge and revelation are so key, so important and so high valued by God, that God himself said that "people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you"(4). God dislike so much when people do not walk in his knowledge because he understands that it will automatically lead to destruction. Knowledge is the greatest possession that a person can have. Knowledge is a possession. Make knowledge and understanding the greatest possession in your life because just like Solomon, it will lead you to live an abundant life in God.
References:
(1) Ephesians 4:18 NIV
(2) John 10:10 NKJV
(3) Romans 12:2 NKJV
(4) Hosea 4:6 NKJV
I appreciate you expanding on the topic of understanding. Many times we go through life making decisions and don’t focus on getting an understanding behind that decision. I’m learning this now and will re-read to keep learning.