Apply Thine Heart

Apply Thine Heart

By Emily Freeman

Psalm 144:2 – Proverbs 4:4

It was about a man who was searching for knowledge.  He saw a great philosopher walking by the sea, so he walked up to the philosopher and asked him how he might acquire more knowledge.  The philosopher took him by the arm and led him into the water until they were standing chest deep.  Then he asked, “What do you want?”

“Knowledge,” the man replied.

The philosopher pushed the man’s head under the water and held him there for a long time.

Thirty seconds later he let him up.  ”What do you want?” The philosopher asked again.

“Knowledge,” the man sputtered, as he gasped for air.

The philosopher pushed the man under the water again.  Thirty seconds passed, thirty-five. Forty.  Finally the philosopher let him up.  ”What do you want?” he asked again.

“Knowledge,” the man whispered between heaving breaths.

Again the philosopher pushed him under the water.  Fifty seconds passed.  Then he let him up.

“What do you want?”  He asked the man.

“Air!” The man yelled. Then the wise philosopher said, “When you want knowledge as you have just wanted air, then you will find knowledge.”

The story left quite an impression on me.

I found myself wondering if I have ever wanted knowledge as much as I seek after air.

When was the last time I really wanted to learn something, to understand something, to know something?

“…incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;
Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;
If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures.
Then shalt thou…find the knowledge of God.
For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and udnerstanding.
Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.
When wisdom entereth into thine heart,
and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul…”

Proverbs 2:1-11

I want to be known as someone who finds joy out of learning new things every day of my life.  I want to cry after knowledge…to seek it as silver…to search for it as if it is a hidden treasure.

Until it enters my heart and becomes pleasant unto my soul.

Today my heart is set upon finding one subject I would like to know more about.  My goal is to cry after it…seek for it…search for it.

With all my heart, and with all my soul.

Until the understanding comes.