Eating God's Word

Devouring God's Words

When I discovered your words, I devoured them. They are my joy and my heart's delight... Jeremiah 15:16

"You Are Stupid"

            Words can create, shape, make or break us. When my brother Aaron was in kindergarten my mother realized that there was something wrong with his learning things at school. My mother pulled him aside and asked him, "Aaron, what is wrong? Why are things so hard for you at school."

            HIs response floored her, "My teacher says that I am stupid and that I can not learn anything." My then four-year-old brother had accepted the words of his teacher as truth and had stopped learning.

            My mother had a serious talk with that teacher and now my brother who has two master's degrees is doing great due to a mother who refused to accept those deadly words spoken over the life of her son. Who we are today is largely due to the words that have been spoken over us.  

How Many Cows Are You Worth?[1]

            An island in the Philippines was known for having a unique way of buying a wife with cows. If you wanted to buy an ugly woman it would cost you three cows. If you wanted to marry a moderately beautiful woman, then you had to pay four cows. If she was absolutely stunning, then she would cost you five cows.

            One day two men heard that the smartest businessman had bought the ugliest woman on the island as his wife for nine cows. Dumbfounded, the two took a boat to see if this was true. Arriving at the businessman's house they were invited in for a cup of tea. As their host welcomed them, he called his wife and asked her to bring some cookies for the tea.

            "Get ready to see the ugliest woman on the island," whispered the one friend to his companion.

            To their astonishment, the most beautiful woman they had ever seen walked into the room. The kindness and value that the businessman had expressed over the ugliest woman in the village had transformed her into a beautiful one. This is what the message of Jesus Christ does to our self-value, it changes us from inside-out and makes us shine with beauty.

How Can You Chain an Elephant?[2]

            Massive elephants are bound with a small chain attached to a small a steak in the ground. These huge beasts who could easily free themselves are impaired from doing so because as small elephants they were not able to break free from that chain. As they grew in strength and stature the one thing that did not change was there belief that they were not strong enough to break free. It is not the power of the chain, but the strength of a false belief that holds these beasts down. Which lies are keeping you limited to accomplishing that which you have been made for?

How Can You Catch a Monkey?[3]

            Catching a monkey has been described as being as simple as placing on oblong object inside of a container with a narrow neck. Supposedly, when the monkey grabs the object and is unable to pull it out, then she will refuse to let go of the object. You have just caught an incredibly intelligent animal due to her incredibly stubbornness. How often are we like monkeys who are captured by bitterness or unforgiveness simply because we refuse to let an insult go. Freedom may be closer than we think.

The Creative Power of Words

            God changed darkness into light by saying, "Let there be light" (Gen. 1:3) The Apostle John describes this word as being Jesus Christ himself. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. (John 1:1-3)

             The word of God is not just static letters on paper. Adam and Eve heard the voice of God walking in the cool of Garden and so we can daily walk with God by consuming his words in scripture (Gen. 3:9, KJV). God's words create life and light and when we are full of his words, we shine that light everywhere we go.

Digesting Scripture

            I attempt to read the whole bible through at least two times a year. (That is about six chapters a day). This way, I can hear God's voice daily and allow it to form my heart. I don't want to be like an elephant or a monkey who is held captive because of false ideas about myself or God. I am also thankful that I am worth more than nine cows, but so beloved that God gave his only son Jesus to die for me to live.  Living as a dearly beloved child of God is fantastic! Here is something I wrote to myself in my Bible to motivate me to eat his word regularly: 

"This is God’s word for your life. It is living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword.[4] Eat it, devour it, vomit it, eat it some more, sleep it, dream it, breath it, live it and you will see God’s kingdom invade your world.[5] You will be like a tree planted by streams of water who always bares much fruit.[6] God is your life and his word is the vehicle for your relationship with Him. Use it as a mirror and as a knife to repent and cut out all sin in your life.[7] TRUST IN HIM AND HE WILL MAKE YOUR PATHS STRAIGHT."[8] -Words in the cover of my Bible.

[1] Picture from http://modernfarmer.com/2014/09/inner-life-cows/

[2] Picture comes from https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-chain-elephant-breaking-shackles-weve-placed-robyn-carew-gibson

[3] Picture is from http://charlieheng.com/2014/06/29/learn-to-let-go-and-let-go-do-not-be-like-monkeys/

[4] Hebrews 4:12

[5] Joshua 1:8,9           

[6] Psalm 1:3

[7] James 1:23, Deuteronomy 30:6

[8] Proverbs 3:5-6