A teachable heart is a heart that continues to learn. Growing in Christ and as a Christian requires that we continue to learn. Our learning should be about God and what He is calling us to do. We should also be learning about ourselves.  Our goal in the Christian life should be sanctification which requires learning and changing to be more like Christ.

“Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground!” Psalm 143:10. (ESV)

How would your life change if you prayed Psalm 143:10 and had a teachable heart? God has promised that he will teach us (Psalm 32:8). We need to have a teachable heart.

 

Here are five ways to have a teachable heart:

 

A Humble Heart is a Teachable Heart

A humble heart is one that recognizes that she can learn from others. A humble heart is looking to learn and therefore is a teachable heart. The humble heart is always looking to learn through all the circumstances of life regardless.

“He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.” Psalm 25:9 (ESV)

Contrast the humble heart with a proud heart. The proud heart looks down on others and does not value what others might have to teach them. The proud person is only thinking about themselves.

The humble heart values others and looks to learn and grow in all circumstances. Begin with a humble heart and you will begin to learn.

A Submissive Heart is a Teachable Heart

A submissive heart is willing to obey and change. The person with a submissive heart gives up her desires. If your heart is not submissive then it is not a teachable heart. The submissive heart will enable you to make the changes based on what you are learning. Learning requires change and change requires a submissive heart.

Think about a student that does not have a submissive heart. That student will not really learn because they don’t want to listen and change. In the classroom that is the student with arms crossed, just sitting there with the look of boredom.

As Christians, you need to learn to submit your hearts to God so that you can learn to grow. The submissive heart is looking to change, to learn, and to grow.

A Willing and Eager Heart

A willing and eager heart is one that is excited and ready to learn. Yes, I used the word excited but picture that student excited to learn. The one that comes prepared, with a look of enjoyment, and ready for what might happen. Remember being so excited for the beginning of school that you could hardly go to sleep the night before. That is the kind of excitement that makes a teachable heart.

What does a willing and eager heart look like to you? I think of someone who is ready, asks questions, digs deep, listens, engages with people and what is being taught, and reflects on what she is learning. Are you eager to learn?

A Patient Heart is a Teachable Heart

Learning takes time. That is why you go to school for years. You practice and repeat things so you can learn. When you try to rush you end up missing so much. The patient heart knows that learning takes time and is willing to take the time to learn. In order to really have a teachable heart, you need to be patient. Do not rush in your learning but realize that even in the process there is much learning happening.

A Trusting Heart is a Teachable Heart

When you trust the teacher, you know that what they are teaching is right. You need to be able to trust in order to have a teachable heart. When you are always questioning and doubting, it points to a heart that is not teachable. You are doubting and not trusting. If you have a trustworthy teacher, then trust them in what they are teaching you.

A word of caution, evaluate those that you are listening to based on the Bible. Are they teaching the truth, the whole truth not skipping the hard parts? Are they teaching for God’s glory or their own glory? Have a discerning heart as you listen to the teaching.

 

I am embarking on something new and stretching for me. I am preparing to write a book. As I begin this new venture, I am thinking about all that I need to learn. I realize that I need to have a teachable heart.

A teachable heart is not just about learning environments. It applies to how we live life. Living is about learning and growing. This impacts how we approach relationships, how we look at new situations and so many areas of life.

What are you learning now? Maybe it is needing to change the diet to accommodate an allergy. You might be learning how to live with a varied work schedule. It could be community changing. All of these and so many more are ways that you can be learning. The teachable heart will help you no matter what you are learning or how you are living.

Do you have a teachable heart? Is there one of these five ways that you need to focus on?

Learn about the Importance of a Teachable Heart here.

 

Here are some more to read about the importance of your heart in the Christian life.

Heart Surgery for a Healthy Christian Life

Two Women went into a Cafe – A Modern Parable