THE WORD OF GOD LIVES IN YOU
Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.
Colossians 3:16 (NIV)
I can remember a time when traveling by car was very different from what it is today. No modern navigation or GPS meant I had to plan the route before leaving on a long road trip. I can remember rolling down the interstate with a road atlas and several folding maps lying across the front dashboard. Getting lost meant pulling over and trying to figure out where I missed a turn or exit. What a hassle! But modern navigation has simplified the process of traveling by offering step-by-step directions and providing rerouting if we miss a turn. To put it simply, it keeps us from getting lost.
But how do we keep from losing our way spiritually? In Matthew 4:1-11, the Holy Spirit leads Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan. The Spirit would empower Jesus with the Word of God, allowing Him to resist all temptation through Scripture. In John 14:26, we see how God offers us the gift of His Spirit to empower us just as He did Jesus in the wilderness! Because of Christ's sacrifice on the cross, we're not only forgiven and made new, but the Word of God now lives in us. I don't know about you, but that's good news! Tough seasons are guaranteed. Hardships such as a diagnosis, lost employment, marital strife or a prodigal child are part of life. But as believers, the Word within us calms the storm, guides our steps and keeps us anchored.
APPLICATION: Learning to hear the Holy Spirit takes some effort. Commit to finding time in your day to meditate and listen. Ask God what He wants you to know. Strengthen yourself in God's Word by developing a Bible study plan that works for you. Faith is like a double-edged sword. It has to be continuously sharpened to be effective.
PRAYER: God, thank You for Your Word. Thank You for Your Spirit, who guides us and keeps us grounded. Thank You for Jesus' work on the cross; without His sacrifice, we would not have access to Your Spirit and would be eternally lost. I am forever thankful. Amen.
"… Our Father in heaven…" Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
• What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
"… may your name be kept holy." Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
• What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
"May your Kingdom come soon." Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
• Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
"Give us today the food we need," Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
• Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I'm around today?
"and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us" Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
• Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
"And don’t let us yield to temptation…" Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
• Is there anywhere I'm vulnerable to temptation?