"Thus faith comes from what is heard." - Romans 10:17
I have songs I listen to when I want to pump myself up and I'm sure you do too. That's because what you listen to, whether you realize it or not, really affects how you feel and your emotions. What you listen to always affects your faith. It can build it or destroy it. So many of you tell me that reading these messages helps your faith. Why? Because you're hearing the Word of God. Your faith comes from what you listen to. Being around people that tell you about God, about their own relationship with Jesus will increase your faith as well. In the same way, when you listen to people who will bring your faith down and tell you things they have against religion and the church, guess what will happen to your faith? Unless your faith is super solid, it will decrease. If you read through the gospels, Jesus spent most of His time instilling faith into the disciples through His parables, His teachings…His words.
If you want to see God do amazing things for you in your life, you need to believe, you need to have faith. If you want this faith that can move mountains, you have to make sure you listen to the Word of God each day. Spend time with scripture. Have a conversation with someone about how good God is and most of all, guard yourself from people and things that will take away from your faith with what they have to say. When you're trying to stay positive, you cannot be brought down by the negative. Listen to the Word of God and receive the promises He has made for His people. Allow them to sink into your heart so that you can walk in the kind of faith that can overcome any obstacle and achieve the greatest things.
Today's Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank You for our ears that help us listen to and accept Your Word. Keep me receptive to all You want to teach me and let Your Words take root in my heart. In Your Name we pray, amen.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
What Is Heard
Saturday, January 5, 2008
The Word of God
"For the Word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword. It pierces to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and judges the intentions and thoughts of the heart." - Hebrews 4:12
How often do you read the bible? When was the last time you did? More than a sacred book, it is the living, breathing Word of God. And if you doubt this, then you haven't truly read it or meditated on it. I can't tell you how many times I've needed to hear from God, opened the bible and felt Him truly answer me. There are certain books and verses that I've read time and time again but at any given time, the Holy Spirit will enlighten me to a newer, deeper meaning that I wasn't able to grasp before. Just the other day I was reading 1st Corinthians over again and this feeling came over me like I had been reading it for the first time. What Paul was saying to the people became so alive and I had never understood it so clearly. The bible has the ability to bring you closer to God, to make you repent of your sins, and to give you the answers you are looking for in life. Reading it consistently even increases your faith since faith is developed from hearing the Word of God. Paul says that the Word of God is sharper than a two-edged sword and you'll experience this when you read the bible and feel a verse touch you. When God is speaking to you through His Word, you read the words so loud and clear, and it even does feel like a sword has gone through your heart since the message is so unmistakably for you. You won't be able to deny that the Word is alive and God is speaking through it to you today.
Today's Prayer:
Lord God, thank You for giving us Your Word. Thank You because You not only left behind the story of our salvation history, but You gave us Your Word and Your promises that are alive when we sit to read them. In Your Name we pray, amen.
