Teach Me Your Paths (Part 2) Series

OPENING THOUGHT: The principle that to learn something new, one must first unlearn what has been previously assimilated is both a challenging and transformative approach to knowledge acquisition and personal growth. This paradigm suggests that past learning can act as a barrier to understanding new concepts, likened to carrying extra baggage that complicates the learning process. This idea is vividly illustrated through the experience of transitioning from teaching English as a first language to teaching it as a second language in the Middle East. The effectiveness in teaching ESL emerged not just from acquiring new teaching methods, but significantly from unlearning previous approaches to align with the cultural and linguistic context of the Arab world.

By unlearning previously acquired methods of teaching and learning, I was able to adapt effectively to the cultural landscape of the Middle East. This journey opened the door for me to present a paper at the national teachers’ conference, which in turn positioned me to train incoming educators to teach ESL with cultural intelligence and effectiveness. Yet, before I could step fully into that role, God uprooted me and brought me to the United States to serve Him in an entirely different context. Over the next three years, I found myself unlearning many aspects of life once again so I could communicate God’s heart clearly within the American context. Through it all, the biblical foundations, processes and DNA I had embraced remained unchanged—the message stayed the same, even as the methodology had to be transformed.

Applying this concept extends beyond educational settings, into areas such as ministry within 'The Well Church.' New disciples are encouraged to shed previously learned practices to avoid conflicts with the church's mission and cultivate a fresh perspective that aligns with its values and DNA. This process of unlearning is not about dismissing one's background or experiences but about adjusting perspectives to fit new roles effectively.

ILLUSTRATION: After Moses killed the Egyptian, he was thrust into the wilderness—a place where everything he had been trained to be had to be unlearned. He had to lay aside the identity of a prince and embrace the roughness of survival. He had to unlearn the comforts of civilization and take on the life of a nomad. As a fugitive in the desert, he had to release the rhythms of a structured, metropolitan life and adapt to the untamed wild.

When he arrived in Midian, living among the Midianites, he had to unlearn the ways of Egypt and absorb the ways of a foreign people—so deeply that he even married into their community. He had to unlearn the grooming of a future pharaoh and take up the humble work of a shepherd. But the greatest unlearning of all was this: he had to unlearn being a ‘somebody’ and accept becoming a ‘nobody.’

For forty hidden years, Moses had no idea that God was shaping him—teaching him how to live in the desert, how to walk in freedom, and ultimately how to lead an entire nation through that same wilderness for another forty years on their way to the promised land.

However, the concept of unlearning to learn was met with skepticism initially, the rationale behind unlearning becomes clear over time, demonstrating its importance for both personal and collective growth. It underscores the necessity of openness to transformation and adaptation, positioning unlearning not as a loss but as a necessary step towards understanding and applying new knowledge effectively. Hence, to truly absorb the lessons of 'God teaching us His Paths,' it becomes imperative to shed our previous knowledge and understandings. This process of unlearning enables us to fully embrace and allow God's paths to manifest and operate effectively within our lives.

INTRODUCTION: Life’s journey is filled with twists, turns, and unexpected challenges—many of which leave us feeling disoriented or confused. At times, we find ourselves wondering which way to go or how to move forward with clarity and purpose. In Psalm 25:4, David utters not just a plea for direction but a humble request for divine instruction: “Teach me Your paths.”

This short yet rich plea reveals that clarity often comes not through instant answers but through a process of learning. David did not need the whole map. He just needed the next step. He was asking God to become his teacher. From this verse, we learn that God leads us through an ongoing, transformative relationship—one where He lovingly teaches us His truth and His way of life.

When David asked, “Teach me Your paths,” he was acknowledging a need for God’s wisdom and instruction to walk in His will. Today, we will explore how God teaches us His paths and how we can practically walk in them to move from a place of CONFUSION to CLARITY in our lives.

WHAT DOES “TEACH ME YOUR PATHS” MEAN?