In our last blog, we focused on the first answer to the problem of feeling overwhelmed, but as I mentioned, the Lord gave me several pointers. This week, we will discuss the second of those solutions. After God directed me to Zechariah and counseled us to rely on His Spirit, God said to “read the Word.” Well, God, I thought, “These are people who read the Word to find answers to life’s problems. They already know that.” Then God said to me, “Do you always read the Word, Lisa Marie, or do you just recite it from memory?” I thought, “Well, God, I don’t always READ the Word when I am facing issues. Sometimes, I just call it up from memory. Is that not good?” God reminded me that of course that is not bad; it is good to hide the Word in our hearts so we can be ready with an answer at all times, BUT it is not enough! So, why isn’t it enough? The answer is simple, and it is two-fold.
First, the Word is living; it has spiritual life and power in it. When you are reading the Word, you are not just reading words on a sheet of paper. You are reading the very life and heart and Spirit of God. You are receiving supernatural bread. Your memory reminds you of the Word and wisdom of God, but it is not THE WISDOM OF GOD. The Word is the WISDOM OF GOD. It is the BREATH OF GOD. 2 Timothy 3:16 says, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness (emphasis added).” As you read God’s Word on the written page, God’s WISDOM, AND LIFE, AND ANOINTING are being transferred into your spirit. God is BREATHING life into your situation. Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the Word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any two-edged sword, it penetrates even to the dividing of the soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” When you are overwhelmed and need help and direction, do you want advice that is alive and active? Then you must READ the Word, not just rely on memory to give you what you need. Do you want to wield a two-edged sword against the difficulties of life? Of course you do. When you READ the Word, that two-edged sword of the Word is dividing between soulish and spiritual wisdom and direction. That’s exactly what we need when we are in a confused or dark or difficult situation. We need Spirit wisdom, not soulish thoughts. We need answers from the heart of God, and when we read the Word, it becomes alive in our spirits, because it transmits the Life of God into our hearts and minds, giving us the direction and supernatural power we need. It makes God’s Anointing come alive in us! Wow! That’s what I want!
I once heard Brother Kenneth Copeland say that just as the memory of a baked potato is not enough to feed our physical bodies and sustain us physically, the memory of the Scripture is not enough to sustain and nourish us spiritually. That is such a great comparison. We must partake of the meat of the Word by reading it and meditating upon it, and when we do, God’s Word comes to our rescue and breaths His very life into our situation!
Now, above, I said the answer was two-fold, and we just discussed the first fold, so to speak. The second reason we must READ the Word and not just rely on our own memory is because when we read the Word, God expands our knowledge. Have you ever had God put a Scripture in your heart, and then you went to look it up, and when you did, you read the verses surrounding that verse, and you saw that God spoke even more into your heart? Of course you have. Then, as a result of insight you gained from those Scriptures, God directed you to other Scriptures that gave you powerful help in time of need? Of course. That has happened to each of us. You see no Scripture is meant to be read in an isolated manner, and God put certain Scriptures together for a reason. In Acts 20:27, Paul says, “For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God (emphasis added).” That statement by Paul reminds me how important it is to study ALL the Word of God so that I can receive His complete counsel. God specifically tells us to be diligent in studying the Word and to rightly divide it (2 Tim. 2:15). We can’t do that by relying on our memory. How many times have you relied on your memory of the Word or someone else’s interpretation of a passage, and then when you went to actually read the Scripture, you found that your idea of the Word was slightly off? How many times have you recalled and recalled a particular Scripture for help in your life, and then when you actually went to that passage, God showed you something even deeper, or slightly different, or something brand new than what He had already taught you from that passage. You see, God is not stagnant, and neither is His Word. One time, while reading a Scripture, you will find just what you need, but another time, reading the very same Scripture, you will obtain a slightly new perspective. God is always speaking His truth to us, and His Word always gives us the exact revelation that we need at that point in our lives. That’s why we need to go to the written Word and not just recall our own thoughts about Scriptures.
Receive the very LIFE and BREATH of God when you READ His Word! Next time we get together, we will discuss pointer number three!
All of God’s wisdom and power and revelation and anointing be unto to you by the very Word of God. Partake of the very Breath of Life,
Pastor Lisa Marie
If you have never made Jesus the Lord of your life and desire to, pray this: Dear God, I believe that Jesus is your Son, that He died on the cross for me and was resurrected for my redemption. I choose to make Jesus the Lord of my life. I thank you for forgiving me and for filling me with Your Holy Spirit. I thank You that I am Your child, that You are my Father, and that You have great things planned for me. Amen.