Knowledge is an important thing to have. It's highly valued in our culture. People are often categorized by how much knowledge (education) they've obtained. While I don't doubt the importance of having knowledge, I've realized this year there's a huge difference between knowing "about how to do something" and actually being able to do it.
One of the things that can hinder the progress of our lives is a false-confidence in who we are. Often times, this false-confidence comes from a base of understanding that impacts how we think but not how we act.
Let me be perfectly honest. You can have all the knowledge in the world, but that doesn't mean you have the ability to put your knowledge into action. I've read a lot of books over the past 2 years. I've taken the time to earn both a bachelor's and master's degree over the last 6 years, but at the end of the day I have to be able to do something with what I know. Otherwise, my knowledge is useless. Just because you've read the book, listened to the podcast, watched the video, went to the conference, or watched someone else do it, doesn't mean you will automatically be able to actually do it yourself.
You may know...
- how a spouse should treat their significant other
- that parents should spend quality time with their kids
- what is expected of someone who follows Christ
but do you actually do it?
My hope, and most importantly God's hope, is that you will live a life that takes action and refuses to be content with knowledge. Here are some takeaways to help you move from "knowing how" to "actually doing"...
- Plan to intentionally take action on the things you know.
- Be in constant reflection on your progress.
- Learn to listen to the Holy Spirit's convictions upon your life.
- Find a mentor and be willing to let others who have gone before you help you accomplish your desire.
- If you have a desire to do something and even the knowledge that would suggest you can accomplish your desire, are you willing to put in the effort and perseverance needed to learn how to actually do something? This means you will most likely struggle, fail, and fall short, but that's part of the process. The key is to not let your shortcomings become the final result!
