RESPONSE TO LIFE: COGNIZANCE

“…And the third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and pleaded with him, and said to him: “Man of God, please let my life and the life of these fifty servants of yours be precious in your sight…” ~ II Kings 1:13

REFERENCE:

II Kings 1:2-15

Cognizance is not trendy; it means knowledge, awareness, or notice. To take cognizance of something is to take note of or consider things or events around you. It is opposite to ignorance, and as seen yesterday, an arrogant man will rarely be cognizant of things he ought to know. To respond to life with cognizance, be humble, perceptive, and ready to learn.

What separates this captain from the previous two is cognizance. He took notice of the fate of his predecessors, acknowledged Elijah’s personage and power, and was aware that the lives and families of his men depended on his choice or response to the ‘Elijah matter.’ So, he took responsibility (another quality of cognizance) for the outcome, hence his response.

The attributes displayed by this captain show a great display of emotional intelligence. They informed the actions he took and his manner of speech afterward. He didn’t mind kneeling to beg the prophet before the junior officers in his charge. His language was supplicating and respectful, although Elijah was a ‘bloody civilian.’ The prophet, perhaps, saw his attitude, spared his and his men’s lives, and went with him. The man achieved what the others could not.

Do you possess cognizance? Before responding to life, its challenges, and concerns, do you seek to gain knowledge to respond better? Are you aware of the context of your battles, challenges, or struggles? Some of the fights with your spouse may be because you are both stressed. Have you thought about the fact that you are carrying so much mental weight? Take all that into cognizance, and you will be less angry at the people around you and respond better.

Do your best to develop cognizance. Learn emotional intelligence, especially empathy. Learn to read a room and people’s moods. Understand the concept of context, knowing that everything exists in a context, so you are not just chasing shadows and be perceptive of causes and effects around you and learn from the experiences of others. The different attitudes of these captains play out in our approach to life and leadership, and they determine our outcomes.

PHOTO QUOTE

ADDITIONAL TEXTS:

Proverbs 27:12, Proverbs 14:15, and Proverbs 4:1-2

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PRAYER:

Lord, help me to develop my power of cognizance so that I may be a better leader with a high sense of responsibility for all You have committed to me. I let go of every form of ignorance, arrogance, and foolishness. Help me develop a keen sense of awareness, humility, and empathy to respond to life’s situations with wisdom and cognizance, in Jesus’ name.