Day 18: One Brick at a Time

The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge; the ears of the wise seek it out. Prov. 18:15

There is a construction project taking place accross the street from my home. We first heard about the possibility of the elementary school being built when we moved into the community five years ago. Last year we saw the first indication that the plans were finally taking shape when large machinery came in and prepared the land. Since then the site has been a constant reminder that buildings are the cumulation of planning and daily work, as we have watched the school grow one brick at a time. It has been interesting to see the project take shape.

The process of building our lives is not completely different. The pursuit of wisdom involves discipline and applying ourselves to learning what it means to fear the Lord. This will lead to a heart of wisdom and needs to become a part of our daily routine. It is what I see and learn from the Proverbs: that God rewards the heart of a person who earnestly seeks God and applies themselves to the goal that Paul expresses in Philippians 3:10: I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship in his suffering.

This happens not in quick spirts, but in the daily acquisition of knowledge, seeking God's wisdom for one's life. It is a discipline that involves time spent in the Word of God, listening in prayer, and applying what we learn to the situations of life.

This morning I read a John Maxwell leadership blog that reinforced this idea:
"Growth happens daily, not in a day." - Drago

The elementary school accross the street will open its doors in the Fall of 2011; a climax to years of planning and construction. The time I spend in God's Word is a pursuit that allows the Master Builder to shape and form me, not overnight or in one magical moment, but one day and one brick at a time.