God's Word and the Discovery of True Freedom

 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth,   and the truth will set you free.”    John 8:31-32  ESV

    

    The importance of God’s living and active word to living a fruitful life of goodness, cannot be overstated. If we truly want to interact with God and experience his goodness living in us, we must be people who live in Scripture.  In fact, that is what the word “abide” means.  If we choose to just “visit” God’s word occasionally, then our interaction with God and our experience of the freedom of his goodness will be minimal.  If we are people who saturate our hearts and minds with God’s truth, we will be transformed in beautiful ways and discover true freedom.

   Do you believe this?  Is God’s Word important to you?  Does your current interaction with God’s Word reveal that it is important to you?  What can you do this week to more fully live in God’s truth?  Here are two ideas.  Choose one and do it every day this week.

1.Choose to read God’s Word twice a day instead of once.   Try “bookending” your day with God’s Word by reading it in the morning and close to bedtime.

2.Commit to memorizing Scripture and reviewing it each day.  The simple way of writing verses out on index cards and carrying them with you is very helpful.  There are also several good apps for smartphones , such as “Scripture Typer”.

Becoming Aware of God's Presence in His Created World and His Written Word

1The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

7 The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.           Psalm 19:1,7  NIV

Elizabeth Barrett Browning wrote:

        “Earth's crammed with heaven, And every common bush afire with God: But only he who sees takes off his shoes – the rest sit round it and pick blackberries.”

Our world is full of the evidence of God’s presence, but somehow we miss it and go through life getting lost on the trivial stuff that only seems to be important.  What can we do to be more aware of God’s presence?  

Psalm 19 gives us some help.  The created world of God and the written Word of God have been given to us to keep us attuned to our loving Creator.  Try this simple experiment to help you live with a greater awareness of God this week.

   

1. Sometime during the course of each day, let something created  draw your attention to God.  It won’t be difficult. It might be the sunrise or some brilliant gold autumn leaves.  It might be the look on your dog’s face or frost on the window of your car.  It probably already happens a couple times each day, but you are used to rushing right by it. This week, slow down for a few moments and enjoy the gift you’ve been given.

   

2.  As you read a small portion of Scripture each day, ask God to refresh your soul with it.  Ask God to give you something fresh from His Word that will help you be more aware of His presence throughout the day .

Each time you are aware of God, invite Him to fill more and more of your life with His goodness and trust that He will do it.