Monday, October 9, 2023

Words are powerful.

I’m biased, of course—as a copywriter, I’ve made an entire career based on the belief that words are important. But there are, admittedly, times when words are not enough.

Still, we’ve all experienced the truth of the fact that our words matter, haven’t we?

The words we say to others (and that are said to us) can make or break a day, and sometimes stay with us the rest of our lives. The words we consistently say to ourselves shape the direction of our lives. And the words we say to God can change our hearts and move mountains.

Proverbs 18:21
The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.

If our words are that powerful, can we even imagine how powerful God’s words are?

This past weekend, Lauren Snyder taught on this topic. Her bottom line was that God’s Word can sustain us—in times of both poverty and plenty.

Deuteronomy 8:3
Yes, he humbled you by letting you go hungry and then feeding you with manna, a food previously unknown to you and your ancestors. He did it to teach you that people do not live by bread alone; rather, we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.

The Bible—God’s Word—has incredible power. It’s one of the primary ways he speaks to us, connects with us, and transforms us. And our heavenly Father desperately wants to connect with us through his Word.

However, in order for God’s words to do any of this, we need to see them, hear them, meditate on them, and speak them, so they can get into our minds and hearts. We need to get the words in us, so they can transform us.

So what does that look like?

Deuteronomy 6:6-9
⁶ “And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. ⁷ Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. ⁸ Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. ⁹ Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”

First we have to read it (or listen if that works best for you). From there, Deuteronomy tells us to:

• Write it down. Journal it, and repeat it to yourself.
• Keep it close. Keep scripture on your mind and tongue by memorizing it, so it’s always near.
• Pass it on. Teach scripture to the next generation.

There is another very significant step: We must live out God’s word. Intellectual knowledge is good, but not enough. Too many Christ followers have gone astray with all the right words in their heads—but not in their hearts and actions. We need to have a relationship with God and be faithful to his Word, committing ourselves wholeheartedly to his commands.

May we each grow in our relationship with God as we spend time in Scripture, allow it to change our hearts, and demonstrate it in how we live.

Questions:
Do you have a routine of reading and/or memorizing Scripture? How could you include Scripture in your daily routines?

Next Steps:
This week, make an effort to write down several of your favorite Scripture verses, keep them close, commit them to memory, and pass them on by living them out. John 3:16 is a great place to start. Be sure to read Thursday’s post for more great suggestions.

If you are not sure how to start reading Scripture, check out the “Featured” section on our app, for a few Bible study methods.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I am so grateful for the gift you’ve given me through the Bible. Thank you for the ways you speak to me through it, and for the ways it comforts and transforms me. Help me to be in your Word, so I can live it out through my actions. May your will be done in me and through me. Amen.

Series Theme Verse:

John 14:26
“But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.”

This post was written by Payton Lechner, a regular contributor to the LivingItOut.