The Word of the Day

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2054-58&version=NIV



I believe that God has a very specific word that he wants to speak to you today. Perhaps it's a word of encouragement, maybe one of instruction, it could be one that will bring you joy or peace you've been searching for. His word to you today could directly speak to your circumstances. It may be a word that will help you press on and persevere. He may have a promise for you today. Or perhaps he wants to tell you something that will reveal Himself to you and deepen your faith in him. It could be that he needs to speak a harder word of conviction to you or that he wants to whisper sweet words of love. I don't know what the word is he has for you, but I know he has one.



How do I know this? Because His Word tells me two things. It tells me that the Word of God IS God - "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." - John 1:1. It also tells me that every time his word goes out it accomplishes a specific purpose. Listen to Isaiah 55:10-11:



"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 voice but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."



Hebrews 4:12 tells us the same truth:



"For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitude of the heart."



One of the things I love about the written Word of God is that I can read a verse today and you can read the same verse, and God will use the exact same words to tell us each something very personal and specific for our individual life, circumstance, or faith. That is because the Word of God is God. It is alive and active because our God is the living God who actively works in the heart of each of his children. The Spirit of the living God is in you, taking the words that you read and applying them in a very personal way to your heart.



Every day, friends, God has a word for you. If you want to hear from God, you must be near to God. If you want to hear from God, you must put yourself in a the position for him to speak - spend time with him, sit in stillness, ask him to open your heart and mind, read his word and allow it to pour into your heart. Open your eyes to what God has to say to you this day.



I will end by sharing with you a personal way these truths have touched my prayer life and faith in hopes that you begin to understand why I am so certain God has a word for you each day. Isaiah 55:10-11 has become part of my daily prayers during my quiet time. My favorite thing to do is just to spend some time asking God to speak to me through his Spirit and his Word. I confess my belief in the fact that God has a very specific word for me that day - that I know that he can take whatever scripture is in my devotional and apply it very specifically to my heart and life - and I ask him to do that. Sometimes I just sit in silence once I've prayed that - and sometimes God will plant a verse in my heart that I will pray back to him without me even realizing he has planted it. I have to tell you that more often then not when he does that I will open up my devotional and the scripture for the day is the very one God just planted in my heart. There is no way that can happen and me not walk away changed. There is no way that can happen and me not know and believe that God's word IS alive, active, and purposeful. There is no way I can not walk away from that without an increase in faith, in peace, in fear and reverence of God. There is no way I can walk away from that without being totally humbled by God's love. There is no way I can walk away from that and not worship.



Friends, I pray that today and every day you would draw near to God through Word and prayer and hear the very special words he has for your life that day. I pray Isaiah 55:2-3 over each one who would read this blog today. I pray that he would give you a hunger for that which satisfies. I pray that you would listen to him, eat what is good, and be filled with the riches of fare. I pray that you would give ear and come to him; hear him, and that your soul would live. Amen and Amen!



Today's post was submitted by Carol Bartels