Learning to do something new is exciting, but it doesn’t take long before being proficient at that new thing is what’s really exciting.

I remember when I first learned three chords on the guitar – I was thrilled. I could strum out a song – many songs – with three chords.

The problem was, though I knew those three chords, it took me too long to contort my fingers into position for those chords.

Sure I could play three chords, and sure I could play a song, but the pauses in between the chords, while I maneuvered my fingers to the next chord, made singing along to the song an agonizing experience.

I needed to become more proficient with my chord progressions. 

It’s like that with most things. We are thrilled when we can do something but we are more thrilled when we can do that something quickly, or without hesitation, or even without thinking. 

We want to be able to do that new thing in less steps or with less effort. There is a desire to cut down on the time it takes or the space it takes up.

I’ve watched YouTube videos of people doing some amazing tricks. The trick is often jaw-dropping, but it’s probably near impossible to repeat. You can’t become proficient at tricks.

The other day I picked up a computer mag and started going through it. It had some tips and tricks to make working on my computer faster and easier. There was one that caught my eye and I started looking into how I could use it with my work.

I’ve been using a Mac Book Pro for many, many years. … After a while you think you know your way around your computer pretty well. You think you’re doing things on your computer the best way possible. 

But then you read about a process that you didn’t know or never really considered to be useful to you.

It’s sort of like always putting Ikea furniture together without instructions.  

You become very acquainted with the way they engineer things and how to insert and use their fasteners. And then, after building 10 to 20 different items over the years, you discover that the piece of paper with the pictures that came in the box wasn’t a comic strip for your children. It was actually the instructions on how to put the item together. 

Now you’ve discovered a way to be more proficient in building that table or storage unit. You don’t have to undue that one leg because you put it on upside down and backwards.

Well, that’s what I found in this magazine. I’ve been setting up the study apps on my computer the same way for years. It’s worked well for me. 

I realize now that I could have been working more efficiently if I had become proficient at using this new-found study set up. 

One little article later and I have a more efficient way to study than I did last week.  

Here’s the thing: We often use the same method to discover and apply personal application of God’s word, the Bible. In fact, you probably have been using the same method for so long you think you are going about it the best way possible. But it’s more like a comfortable path you’ve found. You can become more proficient in applying God’s word to your life if you are willing to seek new methods. Be open and alert to new ways.

That’s Life!

Paul

Question: Where can you look for new study methods? Leave you comments and questions below.

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