As water reflects a face, so a man’s heart reflects the man. (Prov. 27:19)
Applied to teachers, Proverbs 27:19 would say, “so a teacher’s heart reflects the teacher.”
As teachers, we need to do the right things, but our hearts need to be right as well. “All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the Lord weighs the heart” (Prov. 21:2).
I already wrote an article on the MinTools.com site about Why the Condition of a Teacher’s Heart is So Important. Now I want to consider some traits that ought to be in a teacher’s heart.
Teachable Heart (attentive, listens, observes)
Prov. 10:8; 22:17; 23:12; 24:32
Enlightened Heart (wise, discerning)
Prov. 15:14; 16:21; 23:15
Aligned Heart (walks in truth; trusts in God, not self)
Ps. 86:11; Prov. 3:5-6
Caring Heart (loves, compassionate)
Prov. 3:3; 1 Pet. 1:22
Humble Heart (not proud)
Ps. 51:17; 131:1
Earnest Heart (sincere)
Col. 3:22; Heb. 10:22
Righteous Heart (pure, maintains integrity)
Ps. 15:1-2; 51:10; 119:80
Steadfast (firmly established)
Ps. 57:7; 112:7
Remember, “a teacher’s heart reflects the teacher.”
So, what’s in your heart?
To answer that questions, start by praying something similar to the following verses:
Test me, O Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind. (Ps. 26:2)
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. (Ps. 139:23)
Then get specific in your prayers about each of the heart conditions in the above acrostic, particularly in how it relates to your teaching. Ask:
- Do I have this kind of heart?
- Why do I need this kind of heart in teaching?
Then ask God to more fully develop this heart within you.
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I really appreciate this…
David is an example of “a man after God’s own heart”.
As teachers, we must do the same.
To God be the glory!
always remember these words…
What an amazing piece of information! This is truly great. I enjoyed reading it. It will be a great help to me. Because I am a Sunday School Teacher for the Youth. Thanks for publishing this piece of information
You are welcome, Maggie. I’m glad to read it has been helpful. What’s in our heart is so important. When our hearts are what they should be, we will tend to do what we should do.
I am a new sunday school teacher. I love to teach, but at times I get nervous and forget my thoughts. Yet I know God has called me to do this. Thanks for the sound advice.
Praise God, Deacon 10, for your certainty of His calling to teach. May I encourage you in those times of nervous forgetfulness that you send a quick, silent prayer for help to the Lord. I have done that on numerous occasions when teaching for various reasons and God has proved Himself faithful. The qualities in this post are what “ought” to be in our hearts as teachers. But, that which “is” in us as believers as a sure and present help is the Holy Spirit. He not only builds these qualities within us but is also a present help for us in the moment.
This is what i was looking for, to be what God wants me to be, and keep my mind always on his word ..thank you.
You are welcome, Michael. What you said about keeping your mind always on His Word reminds me of Colossians 3:16 — “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom …” God uses His Word in the process of making us into the kind of teacher who makes a difference. And, through His Word, we become “thoroughly equipped” (2 Tim. 3:16-17). “Thoroughly” has to include His work in our innermost being.