How to Incorporate Life Long Learning Into Your New YearSample

Day Two: Being Willing to Learn and Commit

Being a lifelong learner isn’t just about studying things we enjoy; it’s also about exploring topics that challenge our comfort zones or differ from our beliefs and ideas. Daniel is a powerful example of this. In Babylon, he was required to learn the language and literature of the Chaldeans. He was only able to excel because he had the ‘aptitude’ for learning.

While aptitude is often associated with natural ability, it is also a skill that can be developed and nurtured through discipline and a change in mindset. Continuous learning—whether informal or formal—enhances cognitive ability and increases our capacity to grasp new concepts.

Daniel’s ‘aptitude for every kind of learning’ (Daniel 1:4) teaches us about his willingness to commit to growth. This dedication was part of his character. Similarly, when we choose to become lifelong learners, we must commit wholeheartedly to honouring whatever we are studying at any given time.

For example, when my husband and I moved into our first apartment, he joked about my lack of knowledge about countries and flags. I’d never travelled much before marriage and hadn’t studied geography in school. Determined to improve, I began spending 15 minutes daily learning—to strengthen my geography knowledge. This practice not only deepened my fascination with the world but also made travelling easier and enriched my understanding of other cultures and contexts. Like Daniel learning about the Chaldeans, I realised that this knowledge wasn’t just for my benefit—it enabled me to serve others and glorify God!

If we view learning as a gift meant to serve others, it changes our perspective. Every experience, no matter how irrelevant it seems, becomes an opportunity to grow, share wisdom, and serve people well.