“Heaven and earth [as now known] will pass away, but My words will not pass away.” Matthew 24:35 AMP
While taking my occasional walk on a nice Saturday morning a lady asks me for directions to an event. I was privy to this event because the path she was on was my usual trekking route. She was on the right path so urged her on the keep going till she noticed a sign I described to her. Shortly after, a few kilometers from that spot, another gentleman asking for directions to a different location. He had just passed the junction he needed to take so I redirected him to go back. Many a time we need some form of guidance to help us on this journey of life. These two examples are very simplistic version of how life can be. Now let me share with you two very interesting incidents with regards to guidance and direction I experienced myself.
I was attending a friends father’s funeral and the usual route was the Accra-Tema motorway. Not very familiar with the area I was going to, I resorted to google maps for directions. Halfway across the motorway I was greeted with terrible traffic. Google maps kindly redirected me but unsure of how that route will be (and bearing in mind how the recent rains have eroded the un-tarred roads within the city) I chose to stick to the highway. Needless to say it took me an extra hour and forty minutes to arrive at my destination.
On an entirely different occasion, I was headed to a meeting and had been to the location a couple of times. Barring early morning traffic, I could have been there in half an hour. However since the traffic was inevitable that morning, I anticipated the worst and tripled my commute time. I again resorted to Google maps for guidance and it took me round alternative routes until I got to the final junction I use to arrive at the destination I was going to. When I got there, the maps rerouted me, again!!!. Confused and not wanting to be the centre of unnecessary chaos, I obliged and followed the maps. I won’t bore you with the details of my regret. Bottom line, I drove needlessly through town for an extra half hour until I realized my folly and went back to basics😩😩😩.
What is the lesson here? Life is essentially filled with circumstances we need to deal with. It can be difficult finding the right tools to navigate issues while aiming at success/ greatness/ fulfillment and avoiding failure/heartbreak/ regret and loss.
Most of us may be familiar with the Sunday school song: read your Bible pray everyday, if you want to grow. Out of the blue I heard my daughter singing it over and over and decided to quietly pay attention to whether or not she was singing the right lyrics. Then to my surprise what I heard her singing instead was “Read your Bible read it like a map, if you want to grow”.
What better way to read your Bible than as a torch to navigate this dark world. Scripture rightly puts it in Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp for my foot and light on my path.” Psalm 119:105 CJB
The message version gives us an even more vivid perspective of the writers prayerful desire to be drench in God’s word:
“By your words I can see where I’m going; they throw a beam of light on my dark path. I’ve committed myself and I’ll never turn back from living by your righteous order. Everything’s falling apart on me, God; put me together again with your Word. Adorn me with your finest sayings, God; teach me your holy rules. My life is as close as my own hands, but I don’t forget what you have revealed. The wicked do their best to throw me off track, but I don’t swerve an inch from your course. I inherited your book on living; it’s mine forever— what a gift! And how happy it makes me! I concentrate on doing exactly what you say— I always have and always will. * * *”Psalms 119:105-112 MSG
“- I always have and always will”. Help us Lord to so desire Your world all of the days of our lives.
“It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh conveys no benefit [it is of no account]. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life [providing eternal life]. But [still] there are some of you who do not believe and have faith.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who did not believe, and who would betray Him. And He was saying, “This is the reason why I have told you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him [that is, unless he is enabled to do so] by the Father.””John 6:63-65 AMP
Your question then may be, “how do I study, grow and mature in the word of God?” or “the Bible is a huge book so where do I even begin?” Below are some choices you can make today to practically engage more with God’s word.
- 1. You need to read the word of God. Crave or desire pure spiritual food. The word will only grow in an honest and yielded heart. You sincerely have to yearn for it just as your body does food when it’s famished. 1 Peter 2:2 (NKJV) as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby
- 2. Hear the Word of God continually for faith to grow. Buy tapes if possible and available. Listen to podcasts of preachers who speak the unadulterated word. Romans 10:17 (NKJV) So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
- 3. Study the word of God. You need to dig deep for your own self. After hearing from others, seek your own revelation. 2 Timothy 2:15 (NIV) Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
- 4. Have a consistent quiet time. Establish a daily appointment with God where you commune with him on a personal level. Luke 5:16 AMP “But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray [in seclusion].”
- 5. Meditate on the word of God. Speak the word in faith. Ponder over it and obey it. Joshua 1:8 AMP “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall read [and meditate on] it day and night, so that you may be careful to do [everything] in accordance with all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will be successful.”
- 6. Memorize it. Eat the scroll. Deuteronomy 6:6-9 AMP “These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be [written] on your heart and mind. You shall teach them diligently to your children [impressing God’s precepts on their minds and penetrating their hearts with His truths] and shall speak of them when you sit in your house and when you walk on the road and when you lie down and when you get up. And you shall bind them as a sign on your hand (forearm), and they shall be used as bands (frontals, frontlets) on your forehead. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”
“My son, keep my words And treasure my commandments within you [so they are readily available to guide you]. Keep my commandments and live, And keep my teaching and law as the apple of your eye. Bind them [securely] on your fingers; Write them on the tablet of your heart.”Proverbs 7:1-3 AMP
“Your word I have treasured and stored in my heart, That I may not sin against You.” Psalms 119:11 AMP
Why not trust God who knows all things because He made all things. The manuscript of your story, your journey here on earth, is not only known by Him but is written by Him. You have an Omnipotent-Omniscient-Omnipresent God. Failure is not an option if you allow Him to order your steps. Just trust Him and trust His word!
With Love, Esinam.
Virtuous Living 