Learning a new language is a daunting prospect. According to my, ahem, extensive studies on Youtube, when you learn a new language, your brain begins the process of relearning, re-coding, and growing new recognition patterns. Your brain stores away those new words and sounds bit by bit as you study, and adds them to your recognition function so that your brain can predict words and word groups, making it progressively easier for you to speedily understand what you’re hearing.
I began learning Korean a little over a year ago. At first it was overwhelming—there was so much to learn; so much to study before I could even hope to begin to understand the language I was looking at. A new written system as well as new words; not to mention the sentence structure that’s completely backwards from English.
Anyone who learns a new language knows it doesn’t happen in one day. It’s a long process; a matter of spending some time every day in the language. And for those of us who don’t live in the culture that uses the language we’re learning, it’s a matter of creating an immersive effect. In my case, since I’m not in Korea, surrounded by the language, I simulate immersion.
I listen to Korean music. I watch Korean T.V. I listen to Korean radio and read Korean books (well, manhwa, actually). I speak aloud to myself and the dog. I practice making sentences in my head.
The amount of time I spend in these immersive activities reflects directly in the confidence with which I approach speaking Korean with my Korean friends, and the excellency I attain in understanding what’s being said to me. If I’ve spent a lot of time in immersion during one week, I’m able to understand most of what’s said to me in Korean, and speak a little back in response.
Similarly, our walk with God will directly reflect the amount of time we spend in His word, in His Spirit, and in company with His people.
A matter of immersion.
Here in this world we can’t ever be fully immersed—just like I can’t have full immersion in Korean language studies without going to Korea—but we can simulate that immersion as much as possible.
Time spent in God’s Word. Time spent in prayer. Time spent fellowshipping with God’s people, talking about God. Each small act of immersion deepens our understanding, makes it easier to see and hear God, and quickens our souls in the recognition of godly things.
And just like learning a language, it’s not something that will happen overnight. It’s something that will take a lifetime, until we reach the final, complete immersion in death and new life.
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. John 15:4 KJV