Are you polluting yourself?

About 14 years ago, I became seriously confronted with a problem that I had grown up with. I could see others had this problem, but I didn't see that I was affected with it as well. I did not know I was actually hurting myself.

As I had grown up, I had learned well! My father had this problem, too....Nobody, other than himself, could do anything right - everybody else was a "@#!%^*@! IDIOT!!!!"
Of course, I knew He was wrong, but I never realized that when I behaved like him, I was behaving wrongly, too!

One morning I was thinking about the word "Slander". I became curious, thinking I knew what "Slander" meant, but wondering if I really Knew for certain. Those who know me well, know that, when my curiosity gets going, I am not satisfied with the bare minimum. I become a sleuth.

So, I went up to my corner and began my search.

Webster's Dictionary says "Slander" means:

Noun: A false tale or report maliciously uttered. and tending to injure the reputation of another by lessening him in the esteem of his fellow citizens....

2 Disgrace; reproach; disreputation; ill name.

SLA'NDER, verb transitive To defame; to injure by maliciously uttering a false report respecting one; to tarnish or impair the reputation of one by false tales, maliciously told or propagated.

The Hebrew says Slander means: defaming, evil report, whispering.

The Greek meaning of Slander is:  defamation -- backbiting, evil speaking.

The definition is very clear to me...if I speak evil of someone or say things that would injure or make him or her look bad or lessen his or her value in the eyes of another, I am slandering. I argued, "Yes, but Webster's says a false tale or report! But, what I am saying is true!!!!!" In many cases, it may be true in my estimation. According to my view, I may have a solid case, but from anothers view, perhaps not. Slander does damage to someone's good reputation. Slander speaks evil of another, it brings an evil report. Even if it were really, truly true, slander is Not the way to deal with it!

#1. I was GUILTY of Slander! 

I was guilty of speaking negatively of another and attempting to make them look bad in the eyes of other people. Not just once, but as a way of life....a sad, bad habit!!! The appalling part was that I had been copying ways I despised from my childhood. Ways that had been done to me. Ways that had hurt me terribly.

Now to the shocking details....

Proverbs 10:18 says "He who conceals hatred has lying lips, And he who spreads slander is a fool."

#2. I was the FOOL!!!! 
ME the FOOL.....Not the one I was bad-mouthing and effectively working to bring down their reputation to others. I WAS THE FOOL!!!! I was justifying what I was saying negatively about another because I assessed my view point accurate and them wrong and Somebody Needed to Know!!! I was the just the One who was going to make certain others knew! Just listen to me!!!! Yep, I was the FOOL....no question and no doubt about it.

I hadn't known what I had been doing was wrong until that morning, when I was in my corner, and God by His Word and His Spirit began to put a searchlight on my heart, on my attitude, on my words and on my behavior. He began to reveal the truth to me. I began to be convicted, but that was only the beginning.

Roman's 14:4

Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

The Message Bible:

Do you have any business crossing people off the guest list or interfering with God’s welcome? If there are corrections to be made or manners to be learned, God can handle that without your help.

James 4:11-12
Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. And if you judge the law, you are not a practitioner of the law, but a judge of it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?

Luke 6:37
“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven.

#3 I am not the Judge of another! 
If another needs to be corrected or changed, God can handle that without my help!!!! Who Do I think I am, anyway???? Do I want to be judged or condemned like I am judging or condemning others? Yikes!!!!

Mark 7:21-23

For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”

#4. Slander is Evil. Slander Defiles me!!!

Defiles: violates me, makes me dirty-unclean, pollutes me, makes what is sacred common.

My heart sank within me as I grieved in response to this information. 

Colossians 3:8 Contemporary English Version:

But now you must stop doing such things. You must quit being angry, hateful, and evil. You must no longer say insulting or cruel things about others.

New Living Translation:

But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language.

1 Peter 2:1

Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander

#5. Just Stop!!!

Stop Speaking Slander! Get rid of it! Lay it aside. Renounce it. Decide that slander will no longer be acceptable in my life - in my speech. It is opposed to God's way. It is evil. It defiles me. Speaking slanderously makes me the Fool!

Proverbs 11:12 NLT:

It is foolish to belittle one’s neighbor; a sensible person keeps quiet.

Contemporary English Version:
It's stupid to say bad things about your neighbors. If you are sensible, you will keep quiet.

International Standard Version
Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense, but the discerning man controls his comments.

James 1:26
If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless.

Proverbs 17:28
After all, even fools may be thought wise and intelligent if they stay quiet and keep their mouths shut.

Proverbs 13:3
The one who guards his mouth preserves his life; The one who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.

#6. Control My Tongue!!! Better to keep my mouth shut!!! 
Nothing more needs to be said about that!!!

Ephesians 4:9
Let no unwholesome words ever pass your lips, but let all your words be good for benefiting others according to the need of the moment, so that they may be a means of blessing to the hearers.

Psalm 141:3
Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips.


Proverbs 10:31
From the mouth of the righteous comes the fruit of wisdom, but a perverse tongue will be silenced.

Proverbs 31:26
She opens her mouth in wisdom, And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue

#7 Speak wisely! Speak words that build others up and never tear them down.

Oh God, I see what you are telling me. I don't want to be a fool any longer. I want to do what is pleasing in your eyes. I know your counsel is right. I know I needed your correction. I am sorry, please forgive me of all the words of slander that have come from my mouth. Cleanse me of all my sin. Heal the wounds I have caused in others by my slanderous words. I do not want to speak this evil slander any longer. I do not want to judge others as I have been judging them. You can handle that without my interference. I do not want to pollute myself with slander any longer. Help me to bridle my tongue. Help me to speak wisdom only and if I can't say anything beneficial to build up those who hear, then help me be wise and keep my mouth shut! I want to obey, but Father, I am so skilled at slandering that I do not trust myself to obey ....Help me, please. AMEN

Roman's 5:2
through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we boast in the hope of the glory of God.

Ephesians 2:8
For it is by grace you have been saved (rescued, delivered, healed...) through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God,

Hebrews 4:16
So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

#8 By His Grace through faith....I can do all things through Christ who makes me able!

Caution: this is not a one time lesson. Many times and even now, 14 years later, I find opportunity to again become slanderous. It is a trap of the enemy to get me to again be a fool, do evil and defile myself. The only sensible choice is to submit to God's way and keep the door shut! 

Titus 3:1-2
Remind your people to submit to rulers and authorities, to obey them, and to be ready to do good in every way. Tell them not to speak evil of anyone, but to be peaceful and friendly, and always to show a gentle attitude toward everyone. 

#9 I will speak evil of no one.

Hebrews 12:6
The Lord corrects the people he loves and disciplines those he calls his own."

Proverbs 3:12
For the LORD corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.

#10 God Loves Me!!!

Identify yourself!

I think I am not the only one who asks, "what's going on here? Why are things not going well? What's wrong?" A good starting place is to "identify yourself".

Luke 8:11-15
Now the parable means this: the seed is the Word of God. Those along the path are the ones who have heard, then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be rescued.

Those on the rocks are the ones who received the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in a time of testing they follow away.

As for the seed that fell among thorns, these are the ones who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the worries and the riches and the pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature.

But as for the seed that landed on good soil, these are the ones who, after hearing the word, cling to it with an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with steadfast endurance.

The first thing we need to understand is that the seed is the Word of God.

The second thing, if we would read verse 10, is that we are about to learn the secret of the kingdom of God.

Third.....there are four kinds of soil, which are relating to the four kinds of hearts (soil) that people have onto which God's Word falls: Hard, Rocky, Thorny and Good.

The "Hard-hearted" people don't believe what they hear and they are prime targets for the devil to come and steal the word so that they won't believe what God says and be rescued.

The "Rocky" soil people are shallow. They are lacking depth. They hear and receive the word and they are joyful. But when trouble comes, they fall away - they let go of God's Word = the seed that was sown.

The "Thorny" soil people hear the Word, but when life, cares of this world, worries and the "glamorous" of this world get in the way, the Word is choked out and they never mature.

The "Good" soil kind of people are the ones who after hearing the Word, they cling to it with an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with steadfast endurance.

Identify yourself now. What kind of soil are you?

Do you hear God's Word, but don't believe it? If so, you are "Hard-harted".

Do you hear God's Word and rejoice over what you heard, but as soon as a problem comes, you forget what you heard? If so, you are "Rocky".

You are "Thorny", if you hear God's Word, but are distracted by all the details, cares, worries and fun of this world.  All of the distractions and busyness choke out God's Word and take over like weeds. The crop that the Word would have produced is overrun and does not come to maturity.

You are the "Good" soil kind of person when you hear God's Word, you believe it and...."it has to be so, God cannot lie," is your stand. You hold tightly to what God says. When problems arise, you continue to agree with the Word you heard, you do not let the devil steal that Word! You do not allow life to get so busy or distractions to draw you away and crowd out God's Word. You steadfastly endure whatever comes by clinging to what God says and not being moved off of that solid position. Hold on steadily and patiently to what God has to say and you will see results.

So, let's make this really easy -  be this kind of person - believe what God's Word says. Know that the devil wants to steal God's Word from you so as to keep you from victory. When troubles come, don't back away from God's Word, push toward it. Don't let worries, cares, pressures of life, or the "pleasures" of this life choke out God's Word. Guard what you allow to influence you and become mature.

What kind of soil are you? Practice doing what needs to be done to become good soil so that positive results will be evident in your life. God's Word is being sowed into your life. What will you do with it? What you do with God's Word shows what kind of soil you are and that determines what kind of results you will experience in this life.

 If you desire to be the "Good" soil type of person, pray and ask God to teach you what you need to change. The answer really lies in "What am I doing with God's Word?"

PS....this is an on-going issue. You can be "Good" soil, but the devil is always at work to get you to let go of God's Word. Troubles, much busyness, distractions and cares of this world are always vying for your attention, attempting to gain the upper hand over the Word of God in our lives, choke out God's  Word and render us fruitless.  Be on guard. Hold fast to what you have learned.

1 Peter 5:8-9
Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith.

More!

Ever since I was a kid, I always wanted more. More in a good way, not entirely in the childish, selfish way. Not more candy or more toys or more "things" What I really wanted, but could not explain, was the deep down desire of more in the way of life as a whole.

I wanted joy. I wanted real happiness, and I wanted peace. I wanted to be really loved. I wanted to know that I was safe and protected. I wanted to know someone was pleased with me and really believed in me. I wanted to know that somebody knew that there really was true value and a purpose for my life. I was never satisfied with less than what I knew was available. I really don't know if that is a common thread among people, but when I look back, I can see that it certainly was for me.....and still is.

I don't want to settle for less - even now.

I would look at how other parents lovingly treated their children and I longed for that. I would sense the peace in their home and I so desired that.

When I went to our small town church,  I would see hypocrisy, disrespect and lack of honor toward God. I longed for what I thought Christianity really should be, but I wasn't finding it in my experience. I would say, "there has to be more!!! I want more!!!"

After I was born again, I thought, "This is it, now my life will be perfect!" But, sadly, I found out that it didn't solve my need for "More" and I could see that it wasn't solving the need in other "Christian" people's lives either. I wanted more of God, but I didn't know how to get to that place.

For years, I attempted to get More in my life. I can't even say I wanted "More", because in certain significant parts of my life, I had None. More of nothing is still nothing. I wanted to experience the life that I knew must be possible. But How?

I was desperate for what I did not have. I wanted a real relationship with God. I really wanted to know Him. I longed for the Peace that passes understanding, joy unspeakable, and life and life more abundantly,  I wanted a real relationship with God. Seriously, I wanted to enjoy my everyday life, like Joyce Meyer talked about, I wanted a changed life entirely, but what I longed for seemed to evade me.

What was I missing? What was I not understanding? What did I need to do? Obviously, everything I did know and everything I had tried, was not getting me to that "More" place.

To say I accidentally happened upon the way to "More" would be incorrect. I believe, even if it seemed accidentaI, that it was not.  I had asked God to help me. He heard me and answered me and showed me the way to go. I had stopped expecting God would just take care of it and drop the "More" upon me in a miraculous way and all would solved. I stopped trying to figure it all out by my own effort. Seriously, I screamed out for "Help" to God. He heard me and He answered me.

The answer was found when I pursued this way of living....

Matthew 7:7
“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.

Deuteronomy 4:28-31 
But from there you will seek the LORD your God and you will find him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul. When you are in tribulation, and all these things come upon you in the latter days, you will return to the LORD your God and obey his voice. For the LORD your God is a merciful God. He will not leave you or destroy you or forget the covenant with your fathers that he swore to them.

Jeremiah 29:13
If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.

1 Chronicles 16:11; Psalm 105:4
Search for the LORD and for his strength; continually seek him.

Proverbs 25:2
It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out.

Proverbs 2:1-11

My child, listen to what I say,

and treasure my commands.

Tune your ears to wisdom,

and concentrate on understanding.

Cry out for insight,

and ask for understanding.

Search for them as you would for silver;

seek them like hidden treasures.

Then you will understand what it means to fear the LORD,

and you will gain knowledge of God.

For the LORD grants wisdom!

From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest.

He is a shield to those who walk with integrity.

He guards the paths of the just

and protects those who are faithful to him.

Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair,

and you will find the right way to go.

For wisdom will enter your heart,

and knowledge will fill you with joy.

Wise choices will watch over you.

Understanding will keep you safe.

I guarantee that asking God for Help will begin to open the door of the "More" and Seeking, searching and pursuing God to know Him, to gain wisdom and understanding of His Word and insight into His ways will lead you to the "More" that you desire. Keep knocking and you will continue in the path to Life and Life more abundantly. Never weary in well-doing. You will reap if you faint not. Galatians 6:9.

Hebrews 11:6
And without faith, it is impossible to please Him. For it behooves the one drawing near to God to believe that He exists and that He becomes a rewarder to those earnestly seeking Him out.

If you want the "More" that God offers you, then Ask Him for Help, but Don't stop there. Seek Him with all of your heart. You will find Him as you continally and Earnestly search for Him in the Word of God. He will open the Scriptures up to you as you draw near to Him. As you find Him you will also find our More than Enough God.

2 Peter 1:5

May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord. By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.

In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises.

The High Way!

My ways vs.  God's Ways

God's Way is the Right Way.
Proverbs 25:9; Hosea 14:9

God's Way is the Good Way.
1 Samuel 12:23; Jer. 6:16

God's Way is the Tested Way.
Proverbs 18:30

God's Way is the Tried Way.
Proverbs 18:30

God's Way is the Proven Way.
Proverbs 18:30

God's Way is the Faithful Way.
Psalm 119:30

God'S Way is the Perfect Way.
2 Samuel 22:31: Psalm 18:30

God's Way is the Wise Way.
Romans 16:27

God's Way is the High Way!
Isaiah 55:9

Clearly, God's Ways are the best ways to go. His Ways have already been tested and proven that they are the Right ways to go. God's Ways are the Wise ways to live.

Sadly, many people still choose to go about their life according to their own smarts. They reap the rewards of their own ways, too. Speaking from experience, that way of living is NOT desirable.

Isaiah 55:8-9

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the LORD.

“And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.

For just as the heavens are higher than the earth,

so my ways are higher than your ways

and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.

I have heard, throughout my life, many who stop at the end of verse 9 and make a statement that goes something like, "See, we will never understand God's Ways." To STOP at that point only results in a lethargic attitude on our part. It leaves us defeated without hope....why even try? It will be what it will be because I will never understand God's thoughts or His ways, they are too High for me.

That way of thinking is absolutely ridiculous!!!

Of course, God's thoughts are higher than our thoughts and His Ways are Higher than our Ways, but God doesn't want us to STOP there! 

There are so many scriptures in which God instructs us to: Come, learn of me (God), study, meditate, take your thoughts captive and make them think like God thinks. Don't lean on your own understanding, look at things from God's point of view. Teach, instruct, make disciples (learners and doers of God's thoughts and His ways).

In Revelations 3:8, God praised the church in Philadelphia saying, "you have only a little strength, yet you have kept My word and have not denied My name". 

David said in Psalm 119:11, "I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you". David was a man after God's own heart. 

For anyone to take the attitude that God's thoughts are higher than my thoughts and His Ways are higher than my ways and STOP there is uninformed and deceived.

Proverbs 18:15

New American Standard Bible
The mind of the prudent acquires knowledge, And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge

Contemporary English Version
Everyone with good sense wants to learn.

Good News Translation
Intelligent people are always eager and ready to learn.

Hosea 4:6
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge;


I think the point is clear.....we Must get to know God's thoughts and His Ways and even more than that....we must think the way He thinks and Do things according to His Ways. It is not impossible. Jesus did it and we are told to be Christlike!!! 1 John 2:6

Everyday we have so many decisions that we have to make. For each decision we have a choice as to how we will respond. It always boils down to which way will I choose, my way or God's Way. Let me make it easy.....Choose God's Way every time.

Read the following scriptures and meditate on them.

1. What are the benefits of following God's Ways?

2. What are the consequences of going our own way?

3. Compare the following verses to the characteristics of God's Way at the beginning of this post.

4. Ponder how your thoughts and your ways are becoming more and more like His.

Jeremiah 6:16

Thus says the Lord, stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths where the good way is and walk in it, and you shall find rest for your souls. But they said, “We will not walk in it.”

Psalm 81:10-16

“I, the LORD, am your God, Who brought you up from the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide and I will fill it. “But My people did not listen to My voice, and Israel did not obey Me. “So I gave them over to the stubbornness of their heart, to walk in their own devices. “Oh that My people would listen to Me, that Israel would walk in My ways! “I would quickly subdue their enemies and turn My hand against their adversaries. “Those who hate the LORD would pretend obedience to Him and their time of punishment would be forever. “But I would feed you with the finest of the wheat,  and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”

Psalm 25:4-5 

Make me to know Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; on You I wait all the day.

Isaiah 30:21
Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” Whenever you turn to the right hand Or whenever you turn to the left.

Proverbs 4:11
I instruct you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths.

Proverbs 16:25
There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.

Jeremiah 10:23
I know, O LORD, that a man’s way is not his own; no one who walks directs his own steps.

Deuteronomy 5:33
You shall walk in all the way that the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live, and that it may go well with you, and that you may live long in the land that you shall possess.

Proverbs 3:6
in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 16:1
The plans of the heart belong to man, but the reply of the tongue is from the LORD.

Proverbs 16:9
A man's heart plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.

Isaiah 26:7
The path of the righteous is level; You clear a straight path for the righteous.

Daniel 5:23
Instead, you have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven. The vessels from His house were brought to you, and as you drank wine from them with your nobles, wives, and concubines, you praised gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand. But you have failed to glorify the God who holds in His hand your very breath and all your ways.

Psalm 17:5
Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.

Psalm 37:23
The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.

Which Way will you choose??? God's Ways Really are the Right Ways, the Good Ways. They are the Tested, Tried and Proven Ways. His Ways are the Faithful Ways and the Perfect Ways. His Ways are the Wise Ways.

His Way IS The High Way!

This Changed My Whole Life! Part 4

I didn't understand what was happening. Things were changing in my life that went far beyond will power. Now things are clearer, but at the time I didn't realize how very powerful the Word of God was. I was desperate. I had tried my own ways and failed miserably, I had tried to find help in many other ways, as well, to no avail. I was searching to find the answers to my problems. But I hadn't gone to God's Word for help, until I was absolutely miserable and at a dead end.  I didn't realize that God's Word was key to my rescue. I knew it was the Word of God. But I didn't know my help would really be found in His Word and that it contained the power, the life and the counsel that I needed.

I am forever grateful that Joyce Meyer gave me hope for a different life. She encouraged me, inspired me and pointed me to God's Word for help. Perhaps God directed me to her when I was finally ready to listen.

 I believe there are many people in the churches today that are in similar straits as I was in. Christians, but desperate for help. Filled with frustrations, downcast and seemingly without answers, having not yet understood the value, even the necessity of God's Word in their lives.

As I have said before, reading God's Word was a duty to me. I had not realized that it was wisdom and life to me and health to all my flesh, if I would take it seriously. If I would read to hear and plant God's Word down in my heart and follow the instructions.

I began giving God my attention, reading, studying and meditating on His Word. I desired to gain understanding regarding what God was saying. I wanted to become wise and I pursued to know God through His Word. It was important to me that I learned and applied His counsel. I didn't want misery any longer. I saw the possibility for a better life. I had hope for more. As I pursued to know and obey God's Word, every area of my life began to improve. I didn't understand how that was happening like it was. Today I am beginning to see what was really going on. I'd like to share with you 5 more things that changed my life.

First of all, I began to fully embrace these truths...God's Word is True. God's Word is The Truth. It is Impossible for God to lie. He simply cannot lie. Psalm 119:160; John 17:17. Titus 1:2; Hebrews 6:18; Numbers 23:19. Frequently, especially when what I read in the Bible kinked my brain and myself simply could not wrap itself around the truths I that I was learning. I would say, "It has to be so! My God cannot lie! It just has to be the way God says it is!" This was my response particularly when I would study about healing. God's Word clearly told me that by Jesus stripes I was healed. I Peter 2:24. I read, "He forgave all my iniquities and healed all my diseases". Psalm 103:2-4. Still again, I read: "God sent His Word and healed me and delivered my from all of my troubles". Psalm 107:20. I could see it clearly in God's Word that Jesus did what was needed to provide for my healing. Then I found out that God is no respecter of persons. What He did for one He will do for me, too and that He never changes. Acts 10:34; Roman's 2:11; James 1:17; Numbers 23:19. The more I studied the stronger God's case became. His Word told me over and over and over again that Jesus came not only to pay the price for my sins so I was forgiven. He came as well to bear my sicknesses and carry my diseases so that by His stripes I am healed. Just as I am forgiven, so am I healed. Already.....Yet, my body still said it was sick. Which report was I going to believe? The reality I was experiencing or the truth that sets me free? I would say, "It HAS to be the way God says it is because God's Word is the Truth! He cannot lie and I Will NOT call Him a liar!" I have several miraculous testimonies of healing in my body because God never fails to fulfill His promises to me, if I will only believe. Luke 1:45. I chose to stand with what God had to say! Believing that God's Word is True no matter how it looks or how it feels or what others say has healed my body and saved my life.

Secondly, God's Word is Alive and Powerful. Hebrews 4:12. Obviously, there was no doubt about that for me any longer.

Third, God's Word functions like a seed.

Luke 8:11
“This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is God’s word.

Mark  4:26-29

Jesus also said, “The Kingdom of God is like a farmer who scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, while he’s asleep or awake, the seed sprouts and grows, but he does not understand how it happens. The earth produces the crops on its own. First a leaf blade pushes through, then the heads of wheat are formed, and finally the grain ripens. And as soon as the grain is ready, the farmer comes and harvests it with a sickle, for the harvest time has come.”

So, I was sowing God's Word into my life. Even though I did not know what was happening, it was germinating and producing a crop of faith, freedom, health and life within me. We do not need to understand things to follow God's advice and reap benefits from it. His Word produces 30, 60 and even 100 times when planted into good soil. It's just the nature of God's Word.

Fourth, I recognized that spending time with God and His Word - learning from Him was the Necessary thing to do.

Luke 10:38-42

Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house.
And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary.^e Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

It was normal for me to be busy going, doing jobs, running around distracted with much serving, going, doing, and more serving - thinking that I was doing what was necessary. I was very good at that way of living. Martha was also very good at it. Churches are very good at promoting the doing and serving thing, more and more program requiring more doing, serving and keeping people busy. It is obvious that things need to be done and serving is important, but Jesus says that Mary was the one doing the necessary thing....sitting at Jesus' feet and listening to His teaching. Oh, how we have strayed away from the necessary thing. We MUST keep the main thing the main thing. First and foremost....learning from Jesus.

Finally,
Jesus is the Word of God! How I treat the Word of God, is in reality, the way I am treating Jesus. John 1:1-2, 14. Enough said.


To sum it up....God's Word is True. However you may perceive it....It IS the Truth. We must chose continually whose report we will believe. If you are truly a disciple of Jesus you will learn from Him and follow His counsel. The results are freedom. God's Word is Alive and Powerful. It is like a seed. When it is planted in good soil of our hearts, it will grow and produce change in our lives. Learning the Word of God is necessary, not just a good idea. It IS Necessary. Finally, Jesus is the Word of God. How we treat God's Word is how we treat Jesus. These lessons that I have received into my life have changed my whole life. I pray you will receive them, too. 

What an Attitude!

What is our attitude toward God's Word?

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. Psalm 1:1-3

Acts 13:22 
After removing Saul, he made David their king. He testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.

1 Samuel 13:14
But now your kingdom must end, for the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart. The LORD has already appointed him to be the leader of his people, because you have not kept the LORD’s command.”

Catch the association between being a man after God's own heart and doing things God's way.

Today I want us to identify all the attitudes/perspectives/actions that David had toward God's Word in just a portion of Psalm 119. I want us to evaluate how our attitudes/perspectives and ultimately our behaviors look compared to what David's were. He was a man after God's own heart who pleased God. Let us allow David to be our example, so we too, can learn to be even more pleasing to God.

This is not an effort to condemn ourselves where we do not measure up, but rather to reveal to us what really pleases God and what causes our lives to really be effective. David was clearly a great King of Israel. In my opinion, he was the Greatest. Some would say Solomon was the greatest. He was the wisest, yet foolish since he promoted idolotray. David is the only one God praised to be a man after His own heart.  David's attitude toward God's Word and his faithfulness to do everything God wanted him to do clearly is an example I want to emulate. I want to be one who pleases God, too.

Let there be no excuses why we could never be like David. Let's allow God to penetrate our hearts. Let us humble ourselves before Him. Let us ask Him to teach us His Word and help us to have the same kind of heart and response toward God as David did, so that we, too, will please God. We will face God one day and give an account. What kind of account will we have? Today is a new day. 


Lamentations 3:22-24
22The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;^b
his mercies never come to an end;
23they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.

I suggest praying as you read and meditate, repenting as needed and asking God to help you grow in every thing you learn. 

Psalm 119:129-168
Your testimonies are wonderful;
therefore my soul keeps them.
130The unfolding of your words gives light;
it imparts understanding to the simple.
131I open my mouth and pant,
because I long for your commandments.
132Turn to me and be gracious to me,
as is your way with those who love your name.
133Keep steady my steps according to your promise,
and let no iniquity get dominion over me.
134Redeem me from man’s oppression,
that I may keep your precepts.
135Make your face shine upon your servant,
and teach me your statutes.
136My eyes shed streams of tears,
because people do not keep your law.

Tsadhe

137Righteous are you, O LORD,
and right are your rules.
138You have appointed your testimonies in righteousness
and in all faithfulness.
139My zeal consumes me,
because my foes forget your words.
140Your promise is well tried,
and your servant loves it.
141I am small and despised,
yet I do not forget your precepts.
142Your righteousness is righteous forever,
and your law is true.
143Trouble and anguish have found me out,
but your commandments are my delight.
144Your testimonies are righteous forever;
give me understanding that I may live.

Qoph

145With my whole heart I cry; answer me, O LORD!
I will keep your statutes.
146I call to you; save me,
that I may observe your testimonies.
147I rise before dawn and cry for help;
I hope in your words.
148My eyes are awake before the watches of the night,
that I may meditate on your promise.
149Hear my voice according to your steadfast love;
O LORD, according to your justice give me life.
150They draw near who persecute me with evil purpose;
they are far from your law.
151But you are near, O LORD,
and all your commandments are true.
152Long have I known from your testimonies
that you have founded them forever.

Resh

153Look on my affliction and deliver me,
for I do not forget your law.
154Plead my cause and redeem me;
give me life according to your promise!
155Salvation is far from the wicked,
for they do not seek your statutes.
156Great is your mercy, O LORD;
give me life according to your rules.
157Many are my persecutors and my adversaries,
but I do not swerve from your testimonies.
158I look at the faithless with disgust,
because they do not keep your commands.
159Consider how I love your precepts!
Give me life according to your steadfast love.
160The sum of your word is truth,
and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.

Sin and Shin

161Princes persecute me without cause,
but my heart stands in awe of your words.
162I rejoice at your word
like one who finds great spoil.
163I hate and abhor falsehood,
but I love your law.
164Seven times a day I praise you
for your righteous rules.
165Great peace have those who love your law;
nothing can make them stumble.
166I hope for your salvation, O LORD,
and I do your commandments.
167My soul keeps your testimonies;
I love them exceedingly.
168I keep your precepts and testimonies,
for all my ways are before you.







AMEN