“As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”
Isaiah 55:10-11 (NIV)
The Lord wants us to plant His word in our hearts, and in our minds, because He has a purpose for everything He says through scripture. We need occasional reminders of His truth, even if we need to tape a scripture to our refrigerator or to our bathroom mirror.
His word will accomplish what He intended and it never returns void. It reveals His deepest truths, builds our faith and transforms our hearts. Even when we are unaware, His word is working in us, like a seed, producing spiritual fruit.
Religious Jews have a prayer ritual where they fill small leather boxes with scriptures on parchment paper. Then they place one container on their doorposts, called a Mezuzah.
All the males says special prayers, wearing little black leather boxes filled with scripture, called Tefillin. Those leather boxes are strapped to their arm and forehead. This is done as a literal observance of the following scripture:
“Bind them on your arm as a sign and let them be as a pendant on your forehead. Write them on the doorposts of your houses and on your gates.” (Deuteronomy 6:8-9)
(A boy praying, wearing Tefillin)
We do not observe Deuteronomy in a purely literal way as they do, but we believe God’s written word is sacred and true. Instead of wearing leather boxes filled with scripture on our bodies, we wear His word planted deep within our minds and hearts.
Sometimes we need a reminder of what God promises us through His written word.
God tells us we are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and His special possession, and therefore, we can take every word to heart. If God said that we are chosen and special, that is how God sees us, and there is no debate about it.
(1 Peter 2:9)
We are not chosen based on our merit, we are called by God’s generous grace, and He desires that we cooperate with that grace all throughout our lives. God’s word tells us that nothing can separate us from the love of God, which is a love like none we have ever known. Like a powerful magnet, it keeps drawing us back to Him. There is an endless fountain of love and mercy in Jesus.
(Romans 8:39)
The Bible compares God’s word to a powerful sword, that is alive and active. It cuts through and exposes the lies and the false persuasions of this world. According to this verse of scripture, the word of God is like our personal therapist. It cuts through and reveals the motives and intentions deep within our own heart.
(Hebrews 4:12)
When Jesus said, “all things for which you pray and ask for, believe you have received it and it shall be done.” Notice that He didn’t say some things, or many things. He said “all” things. As we read the words of Jesus, our faith grows, we believe His divine promises and hunger for more of Him. (Mark 11:24)
God promised to be with us always. The Lord spoke through the prophet Isaiah, telling us, when we pass through the deep waters, He will be with us, and we won’t be swept away. When we walk through the fire, we will not be burned, and the flames will not consume us. When we wear His promises in our heart and mind, we can walk through any fires and floods that come, and remain spiritually strong and unharmed, because Jesus is walking through it with us. (Isaiah 43:1-2)
All of God’s word has a much deeper purpose, than just profound phrases to put on plaques and greeting cards. Whatever God says through scripture, is His promise to all of us.
Once we choose to believe it, then His word becomes life changing.
We don’t rely on feelings, because Jesus is always with us whether we feel Him or not. We know it because He said so, and we wear His word in our heart, which is our weapon of truth.
Our lives began as a seed, planted in a womb, by the Gardener of the universe, and He planted each of us in love, for a beautiful purpose. When we plant His word in our hearts and minds, we will reap the purpose He intended for us.
There is so much spiritual strength in reading, memorizing, trusting and loving God’s word. Trusting the word of God has strengthened my faith and kept me through many difficult trials over the years. It is God’s love letter to us.
Lord, we wear your word in our minds and hearts. Help us to grow in the discernment of truth, and make us whole in body, mind and soul. You have destined us for goodness and to know you, is to love you and to cherish all the words you have spoken to us. Amen