Choose and believe

'Let Christ's word...live in you' (Colossians 3:16 GWT). This is an invitation, not an invasion. It's a conscious decision we must make. But if we're going to allow God's word to live in us, we'll need to do a few things:

(1) Read it. It's not about learning to recite Scripture (though that does help), but reading God's word, prayerfully, brings power and wisdom: '...the word of God is alive and active... it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart' (Hebrews 4:12 NIV). (2) Meditate on it. Or, 'chew on' it. Let our spiritual digestive juices process God's word until its tasty wisdom-vitamins become part of us, strengthening, energising and directing us.

(3) Believe it. 'My word...always produces... It will accomplish all I want it to' (Isaiah 55:11 NLT). That is, unless his word is not believed. 'But the message didn't help those who heard...because they didn't believe' (Hebrews 4:2 GWT). We can know God's promises but they're only effective if we choose to believe that they are true. (4) Receive it. We have a habit of thinking that for some reason God's promises apply to everyone but us. There's nothing about us that makes us so 'special' that God's promises can't reach us.



So what now? Write down five of God's promises that are most important to you. Remember, they all apply to you. Now, read through them again and say, 'I receive this promise' to each.





— SCRIPTURE —

'Let Christ's word... live in you.' Colossians 3:16 GWT
— SOULFOOD —

2 Chr 29-31, John 12:37-50, Ps 102:18-28, Pro 27:13-16