Repetition is a powerful teaching tool. Think of all the test
questions and song lyrics you have memorized through repetition and repeated
hearing.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
For they shall be filled.Matthew 5:6 (NKJV)
My son ran into the kitchen after finishing his dinner and
exclaimed, “spoon!” I was confused. He had demolished a bowl of ravioli, some
applesauce, and a banana – what more could he want? Again he said, “spoon!”
Bewildered but intrigued, I handed him a spoon. He took a few steps back,
placed the inside of the spoon on his nose, and then slowly pulled his hands
away. He actually hung the spoon from his nose! After applauding and telling
him well done, I nearly busted up the kitchen reaching for my phone just to
take a picture.
It took a minute, but I realized that he learned this cool
trick from repeatedly watching a kid from one of his favorite television shows.
There was an experiment in 1902 by a Russian Scientist named
Ivan Pavlov. He concluded through using a bell to cause his dogs to salivate
that a behavior could be learned. In the experiment, he would ring the bell
every time he fed his dogs. Soon, he discovered that just the sound of the bell
would increase salivation in his dogs, even before he handed them food.
The constant and consistent repetition of Pavlov can teach
us a life lesson. Everyday we will experience good and bad things. The way we
react is solely determined by the solutions we are frequently exposed to.
If we regularly see our leadership breakdown in a crisis –
then we will break down in a crisis. If we see faith and trust in God from
those we esteem in times of circumstance then our reaction will be the
duplication of their actions.
Life will give you several moments to be the teacher or the
pupil. In either case, you must be aware of what you are instructing others to
do and what lessons you are allowing yourself to learn.
The bells of triumph are ringing. What will your reaction
be? The bells of tragedy are ringing? What will your reaction be? Will you
wallow in sorrow or salivate for the peace of your savior?
When we earnestly thirst for right living in everything we
do and experience – the bible says we will be filled! The dogs had a physical
reaction to the bell that ignited their hunger. The bell rang and they were
filled with food from their master’s hand.
Like everything else, relying on the master takes practice
and repetition.
Bruce Lee said, “I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000
kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.”
When you practice trusting God above all else in every
circumstance you will strengthen you spiritual muscles. When anything occurs,
you will have muscle memory to immediately do what you have trained your body to
do.
As the bells of your circumstances ring, will you trust your
master to satisfy your needs? Practice pursuing God in everything, because, WITH
GOD, all things are possible!
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