Speaking God's Word

Something wakened me this morning at 1 am and I could not go back to sleep. As is my habit when that happens, I pray over those individuals that God brings to mind, I talk to Him or I contemplate events occurring in my life. This morning it was a little of all three and it strikes me that I need to record what is echoing in my heart as a result.

Yesterday our small group Bible study met as usual and had a birthday celebration lunch for everyone. Much thought and prayer was put into this event, which was evidenced by occurrences both in the physical and spiritual realms. As I was starting the DVD that goes with our study, my dog kicked my chair, just as I sat down. I had to be helped up and today I realize that I was hurt more than I thought. A glass was broken just before we sat down to eat, which was a minor distraction to me but I could see that it triggered something in my friend, who dropped it.

Included in the gift bags for each lady was an inexpensive glass bottle with a stopper. I had partly filled the bottles with some purified water and attached a Bible verse with some ribbon. Simple really. Psalm 56:8, "You number my wanderings; Put my tears into your bottle; Are they not in your book?" The visual of this spiritual truth is powerful. God really cares about our hearts this much! He records our wanderings and our tears.

So its 1 am and I am revisiting the events of this Bible study, celebration and lunch. I am praising God for these ladies, who have no idea how they have touched my heart and blessed me. I am praying over their hearts and thinking about how God brought us all together with common difficulties that we can share and encourage one another through. Then I began to ponder how God's word is so effective for each and every situation in our lives. Verses began to flash across my mind. Psalm 119:11, "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin againt you." Hebrews 4:12, "For the word of God is sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joint and marrow, and is a discerner of thoughts and intents of the heart." Then it hits me!

Because we are born into this world that is fallen and ruled by the deceiver, there is never a moment that we can expect a cease fire. Not in this world. But don't we often behave as though we expect peace? I think we should reverse our thinking and expect warfare. Expect it every moment of every day. No, the enemy is not out for us 24 x 7. But if it is not the enemy, it is the consequences of sin and poor choices. And if it is not that, it is the result of living in a fallen and cursed world. This is not how we were meant to live but somehow we park here, we are lulled into a sleep state and and we want to stay here.

Here is what I was left with at 1 am this morning. We can never stop speaking God's word. We must meditate on it day and night. We must keep our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. We must never stop praising God for what He has done and continues to do. We must prepare for battle each and every day with the putting on of our armor (Eph 6). We must fight, ladies, and never stop! To God be the glory.