I had a dream last night where I was speaking to a group of people about reading the bible. In my dream I asked for those who read their bibles every day to raise their hand. In a crowded room only a few raised their hands. Then I asked “how about every two days”, and a few more responded. Some however confessed to rarely opening a bible, even those who said they went to church regularly.
The dream continued with me asking how anyone ever over came attacks of the enemy, or sickness, uncertainties, and opposition? And how did they know who they were in God and their authority in Him?
The reply was they didn’t, or if they did it was always a struggle to walk confidently with any great measure of faith.
The dream has been on my mind because to be honest it’s probably a true representation of how often people read God’s word and how they feel; Christians included. Yet we wonder why things happen, our prayers often go unanswered, and people everywhere are struggling with fear, anxiety and don’t know who they are and what belongs to them.
In my dream I asked those people who were daily bible readers to come alongside those people who were struggling or inconsistent in their bible reading so that they could pray for and encourage them, which thinking about it is perhaps a brilliant idea.
So today I encourage you to:
Pick up your bible, or if you don’t have one to go buy one or download a free copy off the internet. Jesus said he has the words of life, and that God’s Word is useful for teaching, instruction, correction, exhortation, and to bring revelation and knowledge of God’s plan and will for our lives. Plus it is our sword to cut off any attacks of the devil, and when used properly is effective to stop evil in its tracks, tear down strongholds and bring the angelic hosts of heaven to our aid.
Read it: Make a time everyday to read the bible and to find out what God says about your life and what is possible for you when you believe what is says. Then write down what you’ve learnt and pray and ask Holy Spirit to teach and lead you to understand what you are reading as you build your faith. Then put into practice what you’ve learnt.
Get around others who can encourage you to be both a reader and a doer of God’s word, as you put your faith to work so that what you see in the Word you will see come to pass in your own life.
Speak it: Share and talk about what you’re learning with others. When you face a problem or have a need or request find what God’s Word says about it and then take hold of that promise and bring it to God and start to declare it as you pray and go about your day. Write the promises down to remind you throughout the day.
God’s word is powerful and the more you read it and put it to work in your life the more you’ll realise who you are, that every evil, sickness and lack is defeated and what God’s plan and good and perfect will is for your life. (Romans 12:2)
“Praise the Lord, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey His word”. (Psalm 103:20)
“Take up the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God”. (Ephesians 6:17)
Prayer: Lord please help me to consistently spend time each day reading your Word and then doing what it says so that I can grow to know who I am, and what you are able to do in and through my life. In Jesus name Amen