Seeking God's Word

Then Job replied to the Lord: “I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted. You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. “You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me. ’My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.”
- Job 42:1-6 NIV

Job’s encounter with God changed Him. He did not get this revelation from His friends or pastor, he got it from God. Job heard from God, and we need to do the same. We need life changing encounters, which means we need to be in His Word and listen to Him. In Lisa Bevere’s Without Rival, she states, “Far too many of us are satisfied with a revelation of God that is best described as ‘crusts and crumbs.’ We are content to listen to sermons, tune in to podcasts, issue ‘likes’ on Facebook and Instagram posts, and retweet the leftovers of another person’s banquet. There is nothing wrong with any of these, but in comparison to the feast God has for you, they are but crusts and crumbs. The truth is that God wants you to feed on his faithfulness. I want to whet your appetite, because there is a vast difference between talking about God and listening to a God who talks to you.”

Yes, I am quoting someone else, the irony, but we can turn into scripture to see the power of His word. “For no word from God will ever fail.” (Luke 1:37,  NIV) His word is right, it is unfailing and applies to you now. “Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.” (Proverbs 30:5, NIV) His words and breath are powerful: they create and destroy, they heal, they restore. “And the words of the Lord are flawless, like silver purified in a crucible, like gold refined seven times.” (Psalm 12:6, NIV) “As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.” (Psalm 18:30, NIV) We need His word, it is flawless. Human’s make typos, say the wrong word, forget words, misspeak, but not God.
As much as I am loving podcasts, sermons, and reading christian books, there is nothing that can replace delving into scripture. Getting God’s word needs to be a high priority in your life. A devotional or a sermon is not enough to sustain your journey forever. There may be a season when this is what you are doing (and that is fine you know your circumstances), I am not saying you will not learn or grow the people are wise, and have been growing in the Lord and know Him well, but unfortunately their words do not carry the power of God’s. You can not rely exclusively on predigested words from someone else. God’s Word sustains you. His word and teaching need to be our main focus “Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.” (Proverbs 7:2). Be listening for God to speak to you. Expect Him to say something. Write down what God’s says, remember it! Start your own buffet of His word. Like Job, when we encounter God, our perspective changes, and our life changes.

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
- 2 Timothy 3:16-17                                                                                                                                                    

<3 Jessica    
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