1Corinthians 14:15-20 KJV 15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. 16 Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest? 17 For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified. 18 I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all: 19 Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue. 20 Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.

To devotion comes from a passage on speaking in tongues(languages). If I speak in language I do not understand it fruitless to me. Yet if I speak in a language I do understand it is then possibly beneficial to my understanding. Matters not if you understand the words and as long as you understanding the meaning of the words. My cat may not know english, but he learn to understand the words don't bite and don't do that. Whether he knows what words are, he understand the sound those words make. There something important being illustrated here, there is an importance to understand, and not to be left in the dark so to speak. To study scripture has no value unless one has understanding. If you ask God for understanding it is like wisdom it is something God will grant you. It maybe over a course of time and not always instanteously. Something are understood in short fragments and somethings take time to grasp the full meaning. Yet in time, God reveals himself to his followers. It important to have understanding of different languages in our world today. We all learn a few words of different languages, whether from the tv, or social interaction. Some words have no real meaning to us, but the way their used we understand the meaning. If you fight in spanish, i sure it sounds the same way in english. If you speak in love in german or Italian there is communication it not evil what was said. Yet the emotion of words can be hidden, and so interpetation of words are truly needed to get full meaning. If I hear a minister preach with enthusiasm of God's grace and mercy, it tends to draw more people in. Now if one preaches in anger, people understand that too. To much condemnation without grace, leaves people with a thought this God of theirs is angry at them or this preacher is. It not enough to tell someone they going to hell in angry voice, one must explain the cause of a death sentence. To long as people preach condemnation in our world without explaining why there is condemnation. Yet those that do teach explanation, they need to be aware, of the language of the listener. Are we speaking to the young or older generation. Are we speaking the language of all generations. Are speaking with understanding. The listener needs insight, not just to be brow beaten or squeezed to feel love. God wants to give understanding, yet at times understand brings sorrow of repentance and sometimes it brings the feeling of hope and compassion. The emotion understanding can be disturbing, but it can also be freeing. To be able to communicate with God to be built up in faith, in the knowledge and wisdom is to have understanding, not just the emotion of understanding. I can read many words but unless it makes sense it has no real meaning. If no meaning then the words use is futile. It better not to understand evil anymore then a child but to understand ways of God with adult mind. Dear Heavenly Father, give us understanding so your word equips and builds us up in faith. In Jesus precious name, Amen. Continual Scripture Study for Devotion: Luke 24:45 KJV Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, http://www.turtle30cshell.com