Tag: Fixed upon God’s Word

Looking to God for A Word from His Word in 2023

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As we enter this New Year of 2023, it is time to think about what God has in store for you. One way to do this is to have a Word from His Word to be your focus. I have done this for several years now and have found it to be uplifting for my faith and walk with God. God amazes me how the Word He gives me is repeated continually thought-out the year. Many times it is encouraging to my walk, sometimes instructive but always guiding.

I would challenge you to pray about this as you read and study this week. Ask God what Word He would give you from His Word for this new year. He may give you more than one word to pursue so do that and see where He leads you. The Word you have for your focus has others that are or will be related to it. Make a list of your main word and then 5-10 related words. God will guide you to hone and zero in on the Word He has for you. Now that you have your list, look to scripture for verses that use your word or words and see how God guides in choosing focus verse for the year. I generally end up with 1-2 verses.

Here are some verses and words to get you started:

Joy- Psalm 16:11, Psalm 63:7, Habakkuk 3:18 or James 1:2

Hope–  Psalm 62:5, Psalm 147:11, Jeremiah 29:11, Lamentations 3:21-22, Romans 5:4-5 or 1 Timothy 4:10

Trust- Psalm 28:7, Psalm 31:14, Psalm 37:5, Proverbs 3:5-6 or  Jeremiah 17:7

Grace– John 1:16-17, Romans 3:24, 2 Corinthians 12:9, or Ephesians 1:7

Peace- Isaiah 26:3, Matthew 5:9, John 14:27 or Philippians 4:7

Or you may choose to examine words like: unity, compassion, mercy, steadfastness, stability, generosity, service or enough. When examining words like these you need your list of 10 related words to aid you in your search. Have fun with this and make it an adventure in listening to God and hearing what He has to say to you about your New Year!

May God encourage you as you seek His face this week and look to Him for your Word from His Word.

Linda

The Blessings of Delighting in His Word

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Psalm 119 is all about God’s Word- how precious it is to us, what it can do for us, how it guides and guards us…. In Part B, verses 9-16, there are several key verses that can help guide us each and every day. My friend Diana loves verse 11 in particular and holds it dear (me too!) Let’s start with verse 9 which tells us a clear reason to study and lean upon the truth of God’s Word. How can a young man keep his way pure?    By guarding it according to your word. Whether you are young or old this is absolutely true- our walk in this world can only be pure and blameless if we base our daily actions, attitudes and beliefs on God’s Word. If we are guarding ourselves with His word then it will lead to other things mentioned in this passage.

  1. 10 With my whole heart I seek you;
        let me not wander from your commandments!     To guard my walk, my intentions must be focused on Jesus and we need to seek Him. Matthew 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
  2. 11 I have stored up your word in my heart,
        that I might not sin against you.     This verse gives us motivation and reason for memorizing God’s Word, and studying it diligently- to keep ourselves resisting the temptation to sin. John 14:26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” James 1:13-15 “Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. Memorize God’s Word and when you need it most the Holy Spirit will bring it into your mind. This may be when you need courage or strength or to turn you away from evil and help you make a godly choice. God promises His Word will lead us His way.
    3. 12 Blessed are you, O Lord;
        teach me your statutes!     I must desire that God teach me from His Word as I study.
    4. 13 With my lips I declare
        all the rules of your mouth.
    14 In the way of your testimonies I delight
        as much as in all riches.     I need to let His Words be in my mouth as I speak to others, as I pray, as I seek to delight in Him.
    5. 15 I will meditate on your precepts
         and fix my eyes on your ways.     As I study and memorize God’s Word, I need to think on it, chew on it and keep it ever before my mind. Joshua 1:8 “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” Mediation on God’s Word deepens our understanding and allows God time to change and mold our thinking. Biblical thinking comes from spending time meditating on God’s Word.
    6. 16 I will delight in your statutes;
         I will not forget your word.     The end result of seeking Him, guarding my ways, memorizing scripture, speaking His word in prayer and to others, and mediating on His Word will be DELIGHT!! As we put God’s Word in our minds and heart, we will find delight and joy in learning more about Almighty God which will deepen our love and trust in Him. Psalm 37:23 “The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way;”

Diana is right, verse 11 is one to memorize and mediate upon. “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” It is a promise from God that planting His Word in our heart will help you resist Satan, resist your old nature and turn to Him.

Linda

#4- Practicing Devotion to God-Meditate on God’s Word

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Unlike the ancient believers we have the whole Bible to rely upon, refer to and reference for any and all circumstances, needs, encouragement, hope and reflection.  What about God’s Word makes it special?  Hebrews 4:12 tell us “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”  God’s Word can touch us at the very heart of our being and is living and active 2Timothy 3 16-17in us and in our lives.  2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”  God’s Word is inspired and breathed by God so that in using and applying it to our lives we can be ready to do the work and live the life that God has for us.   Can you imagine the power it took for God to create the universe?  That same power is available to us in His Word, He spoke the world into existence and we have His Word before us in the Bible.

isaiah 55 11Isaiah 55:10-11 tell us the intentionality of God’s Word in the world.

“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven
    and do not return there but water the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
    giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
    it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
    and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”  Sovereign God knows where His Word is going and what it will accomplish.   We can count on its success as God never fails or is defeated.  “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.”  Job 42:2

Knowing the power of God’s Word and how God will use His Word in our lives should give us hope and confidence as we study and learn from His Word.   Psalm 119:15-16 gives us what our attitude and actions towards God’s Word should be so that we can be  used of God and bearing fruit in our life for Him.

hebrews 4 12“I will meditate on your precepts
    and fix my eyes on your ways.
16 I will delight in your statutes;
    I will not forget your word.

May you be mightily blessed as you open God’s Word and let your heart meditate and soak in the truths about God and what He has for you to do. Let the living Word of God live within you today!

Linda