God Teaches the Teachable - #265

Being teachable means when God shows you something—you respond. You adjust your thinking. You change your behavior. You take a different step.

Transcript

Being teachable means when God shows you something—you respond. Not later. Not when it’s convenient. Not after you think about it for a while. You respond. You adjust your thinking. You change your behavior. You take a different step.

That’s what it means to actually be taught. Because at the end of the day, God has already given you everything you need. Proverbs 4:11 says, “I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of righteousness.”

Welcome to The Point of Purity Podcast. A powerful weekly study filled to the brim with the all the tools from Scripture you will ever need to build a lasting life of Biblical purity and godliness. I’m your host Steve Etner – author, Certified Professional Mentor TM and Purity Coach for The Pure Man Ministry and this is Episode #265 entitled “God Teaches the Teachable.” 

In Psalm 25:4 David prays, “Show me your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths.” And I love that he doesn’t stop at “show me.” He goes further—“teach me.” That tells us something about his heart. He’s not just asking for direction… he’s asking for transformation. Because here’s the truth—God will show you the right way, but if you’re not teachable, you still won’t walk in it.

So, what does it really mean to be teachable? It means you come to God with open hands instead of clenched fists. It means you’re willing to admit, “I don’t have this figured out.” It means you’re not arguing with God, you’re not negotiating with Him—you’re listening.

That’s exactly what David is doing. He’s acknowledging, “God, I don’t naturally think the right way. I don’t always choose the right path. I need You to teach me how to live this out.” And honestly, that’s where real growth starts.

You see that same heart in Job 34:32 where Job says, “Teach me what I do not see.” That’s such a powerful prayer because it recognizes something we don’t always like to admit—we have blind spots.

I’m fairly certain I am safe in saying that there are things in your life right now that you don’t see clearly. There are attitudes, patterns, and habits that feel normal to you—but they’re not right. And unless God shows you, you’ll just keep walking in them. So, a teachable heart says, “Lord, show me what I’m missing. Show me where I’m off. Show me what needs to change.”

And here’s the encouraging part—God loves answering that kind of prayer. Psalm 32:8 says, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.”That means God is personally invested in your growth. He’s not distant. He’s not silent. He’s not leaving you to figure it out on your own. He’s actively guiding, correcting, and teaching you—step by step.

And as that happens, you begin to grow. Just like 2 Peter 3:18 says, “Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”But let me say this plainly—you can’t grow if you won’t actively listen. You can sit in church. You can read your Bible. You can listen to podcasts. But if you’re not actually willing to receive instruction and apply it, nothing changes.

That’s why James 1:22–25 says we’re not just to hear the Word, but to do it. Because hearing without doing leads to self-deception. And that’s where a lot of people get stuck. They know the truth… but they’re not walking in it. And if we’re being honest, a lot of that comes back to pride. That quiet voice that says, “I’ve got this. I can handle it. I know what I’m doing.”

But teachability says the opposite. “I need help. I need direction. I need to change.” And here’s where it really gets practical. Being teachable means when God shows you something—you respond. Not later. Not when it’s convenient. Not after you think about it for a while. You respond. You adjust your thinking. You change your behavior. You take a different step.

That’s what it means to actually be taught. Because at the end of the day, God has already given you everything you need. Proverbs 4:11 says, “I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of righteousness.”

And He’s given it to us through His Word. 2 Timothy 3:16–17 says, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

So the issue isn’t lack of instruction. The issue is—are we willing to receive it? Because Jeremiah 32:33 gives a warning: “They have turned to me their back and not their face; and though I have taught them persistently, they have not listened to receive instruction.”

God is teaching… but they’re not listening. And that’s the tension we all live in. So let me challenge you with this: God is ready to teach you. God is willing to guide you. God is speaking through His Word. The real question is—are you teachable? Because that’s where everything starts to change.

Let me lean into this just a little bit more, because this is one of those moments that can really change how you think. In Psalm 50:17, God says, “you cast my words behind you.” That’s not just casual language. That’s a picture. It’s like you heard what God said… you knew what He said… and you made a conscious choice to toss it behind you and walk the other way.

That’s sobering. Because every time we do that, we’re not just ignoring God—we’re replacing Him. We’re saying, “I’ve got a better idea.” And again, that’s “King Me” stepping onto the throne.

But let’s be honest—how often do we do that in subtle ways? We don’t always say, “God, I reject Your Word.” We just… ignore it. Delay obedience. Rationalize it. Make exceptions. And before we know it, we’ve drifted.

And that’s exactly where Isaiah 30:21 comes in: “Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.”That verse is actually a grace verse. Because even when you’ve turned your back, God doesn’t go silent. He speaks. He calls. He corrects.

But notice again—the voice is behind you. And that should feel a little uncomfortable, because that’s not where it’s supposed to be. God never designed for you to live life with Him chasing after you, trying to get your attention. He designed for you to walk with Him, following Him.

Deuteronomy 31:8 says, “It is the LORD who goes before you.”In Isaiah 45:2 God says, “I will go before you…”In other words, He leads. You follow. That’s why Jesus says in John 10:27, “My sheep hear my voice… and they follow me.” Not the other way around. And in John 8:12 Jesus adds, “Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness…”

So when you’re walking in step with Him, you’re not guessing. You’re not stumbling around. You’re being led. But when you drift—when you turn to the right or to the left—suddenly you’re out in front, doing your own thing… and now God’s voice is calling from behind, trying to bring you back. And here’s what I want you to really grab onto—that moment right there is not condemnation… it’s grace. God could let you keep going. He could let you wander. But He doesn’t. He steps in and says, “No—this is the way. Come back. Walk in it.” That’s a loving Father.

And how does He consistently do that? Through His Word. Psalm 94:12 says, “Blessed is the man whom you teach… out of your law.”Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”Psalm 119:130 says, “The unfolding of your words gives light…”

So when you’re daily in God’s Word, it’s like having a constant light in front of you. You can see where you’re going. You can recognize when you’re drifting. But when you’re not in the Word? That’s when it gets dark. That’s when you start guessing. That’s when you start following feelings instead of truth.

And Psalm 19:7–11 reminds us just how powerful God’s Word is—it revives your soul, makes you wise, brings joy, opens your eyes, warns you, and rewards you. And 2 Timothy 3:16 says it’s “profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.”

So think about it like this: God’s Word teaches you what’s right. It shows you when you’re wrong. It corrects your direction. And it trains you to stay on the path. That’s everything you need.

So let me just bring it back to one simple question: Where is God’s voice coming from in your life right now? Is it in front of you—leading you, guiding you, setting your direction? Or is it behind you—calling you back because you’ve drifted? Either way, He’s speaking. The question is—are you listening… and are you willing to follow?

Let’s take this a step further and really make it personal. Do you have a teachable spirit? I mean really—are you open, willing, ready for God to shape you? David prayed it this way in Psalm 86:11: “Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.”That’s not just “give me information.” That’s “change me… align me… help me actually walk this out.”

And in Psalm 119:18 he says, “Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.”That’s a great prayer. So let me ask you—are you praying like that? As you’re lifting up your soul to God and trusting Him, are you asking Him to open your eyes… to show you His ways… to teach you His paths? And just as important—are you making time every day to actually get into His Word so He can do that? Because God will show you… but you’ve got to show up.

Now let me shift gears for a second and give you a picture to think about. Imagine you’re an eighth-grade math teacher. You just finished teaching a whole unit—fractions, decimals, all that fun stuff. You feel like you did a good job teaching it. So what comes next? A test. Why? Because the test reveals what the students actually learned—and whether they can apply it.

And if we’re honest, most of us remember what that felt like. The nerves. The stress. That feeling in your stomach walking into the classroom. And if you’re like me, a lot of that anxiety came from one simple truth—I wasn’t prepared. That’s a self-inflicted problem.

Now here’s the connection—when you ask God to teach you, built into that request is the reality that He’s also going to test you. Jeremiah 17:10 says, “I the LORD search the heart and test the mind.”Proverbs 17:3 says, “The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the LORD tests hearts.”And Job 7:17–18 says, “What is man, that you make so much of him… that you examine him every morning and test him every moment?”

Now at first, that can sound a little intimidating. Being tested by God? That can feel scary. But don’t miss this—God’s testing is not something to fear… it’s something to value. Psalm 11:5 says, “The LORD tests the righteous.”Psalm 7:9 says He “tests the minds and hearts.”Jeremiah 12:3 says, “You, O LORD, know me; you see me, and test my heart toward you.”And 1 Chronicles 29:17 says, “I know, my God, that you test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness.”

So what’s the purpose of all this testing? It’s not for God to figure out how you’re doing—He already knows. It’s for you. It reveals what’s really going on inside. It shows you whether you’re actually applying what you’ve learned. It exposes the condition of your heart and the strength—or weakness—of your faith. And that’s a good thing.

James 1:3 says, “The testing of your faith produces steadfastness.”In other words, testing grows you. It strengthens you. It builds endurance in your walk with God. When life is going smoothly—no major stress, no real pressure—it’s actually pretty easy to think your faith is strong. It’s easy to assume everything’s good between you and God. But the truth is… those calm seasons don’t always reveal what’s really going on inside.

It’s when things get hard that the truth comes out. When pressure hits… when temptation ramps up… when life doesn’t go the way you expected—that’s when your heart is exposed. That’s when you find out what you really believe, who you’re really trusting, and what’s actually sitting on the throne of your life. Because tests reveal what comfort can hide.

That’s why we don’t always recognize our weaknesses until we’re in the middle of a test. It’s in those moments that things surface—attitudes, fears, habits, thought patterns—that we didn’t even realize were there. And that’s exactly why David prayed the way he did. In Psalm 139:23 he says, “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my anxious thoughts!”That’s a bold prayer.

He’s basically saying, “God, don’t just look at the surface—dig deep. Show me what’s really going on inside of me. Reveal anything that’s off.” And in Psalm 26:2 he says, “Test me, O LORD, and try me, examine my heart and my mind.”Again, he’s inviting God to examine him—to expose anything that doesn’t belong. Why would he pray that?

Because he understands something we often forget—if there’s something wrong in our heart, we need to know about it so it can be dealt with. And Job gives us another perspective in Job 23:10 “But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.”I love that.

Job is saying, “God already knows me. He knows my path. And when I go through testing, it’s not to destroy me—it’s to refine me.” That’s the purpose of testing. Not to break you—but to reveal you… and then refine you. It’s like gold being put in the fire. The heat doesn’t ruin it—it removes what doesn’t belong so what’s valuable can shine through.

So when you step into a testing moment, don’t just think, “Why is this happening to me?” Instead ask, “What is this revealing in me? What is God trying to show me right now?” Because those moments are incredibly valuable. They show you where your faith is strong… and where it still needs to grow. And here’s the encouraging part—God doesn’t test you to shame you. He tests you to shape you.

So instead of avoiding the test… lean into it. Pray like David did: “Search me. Test me. Show me what’s really there.” Because that’s how you grow.

If today’s study connected with you, or if you want to learn more about what we’re doing through The Pure Man Ministry—helping men all over the world find real freedom and victory over sexual sin—I’d encourage you to check out the website: ThePurityCoach.com. There are a lot of resources there designed to help you take the next step.

Now, one resource I want to highlight for you specifically is my book, Removing the “I” from L.I.F.E. – The Dethroning of King Me, available on Amazon.

Let’s just be honest—life gets messy when “King Me” is sitting on the throne of your heart. You know it. I know it. When everything revolves around me—what I want, what I feel, what I think I deserve—that’s when things start to fall apart. Because at the end of the day, life was never meant to be about us.

Jesus said it plainly in Luke 9:23: “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”That’s the call—deny self, not promote self. And that’s where real change begins.

This book (Removing the “I” from L.I.F.E. – The Dethroning of King Me) walks through questions we’ve all wrestled with at some point: Why do I keep doing what I don’t want to do? Why do I struggle to get consistent victory? Why does it feel like I’m stuck in the same cycle? How do I actually live a life that’s fully surrendered to God? Sound familiar?

The good news is—Scripture has answers. Romans 7:15 captures the struggle perfectly: “I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.”That’s real. That’s honest. And that’s where a lot of people live. But God doesn’t leave us there.

The path forward is about surrender—about getting the right King back on the throne. Because whoever sits on the throne of your heart… is calling the shots in your life. That’s why this matters so much. You’ve got to remove the “I” from L.I.F.E. and give that place back to God—where it belongs.

Galatians 2:20 says it this way: “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.”That’s the shift. It’s no longer about “King Me.” It’s about Christ ruling and leading every part of your life. And when that happens, everything changes—your thinking, your choices, your direction.

So if you’re serious about real change—not just surface-level behavior, but heart-level transformation—I’d encourage you to check it out. Head over to Amazon, search Removing the “I” from L.I.F.E. – The Dethroning of King Me, or just look up my name, Steve Etner, and you’ll find it along with the other books the Lord has allowed me to write.

And as always, the choice is yours. Who’s going to sit on the throne of your heart?

Well, if you have not yet subscribed to this podcast, let me encourage you to do so today so you won’t miss any of our upcoming episodes! So, until next time this is Steve Etner – author, Certified Professional Mentor TM and Purity Coach for The Pure Man Ministry – reminding you that if you are going to glorify God in your everyday living, He must first be glorified in your every moment thinking.