8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
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| Photo credit: http://www.truthandcharityforum.org/ |
I’m currently reading a book “Outliers – The story of success” by Malcolm Gladwell, in one of the chapters of the book, he talks about the 10,000 hour rule, which when applied in learning or practicing a skill, one gains mastery.
As we spend time studying God’s word and meditating on it, our lives begin to change, our thoughts and words changes. The enemy of our soul does not want us to spend time studying God’s word, he will rather us get occupied with “legitimate” things than the important thing which is studying God’s word. When Jesus visited Martha and Mary, Martha was preoccupied with serving, while Mary sat at the feet of Jesus, just to listen to His words.
Luke 10:38 – 42 (NKJV)
38 Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” 41 And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. 42 But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”
In my fourth year in the University, I decided to go on a “Bible excursion – reading & studying the Bible from Genesis to Revelation”. That year, my life really changed, I used to have challenges in my thought life. I could think about twenty things in five minutes and sometimes end up confused, especially when I wanted to make a decision. I struggled with my will power but it didn’t work.
As I began to study and meditate on God’s word daily, my thoughts began to change, I discovered that the enemy wanted to occupy my mind with other things than the Word of God, after reading the scriptures, I found myself naturally thinking about what I had read that day. The Word of God became so sweet to my soul, the Lord gave me an unusual hunger for His word.
By the time I got to my final year, my vocabulary and discussions began to change. I remember my room-mate once said to me “Constance, you have a beautiful mind” at that time, I realized it could only be the Spirit of God that had done it, through His Word, if only she knew where I was coming from…
Ephesians 4:23 (AMP)
23 And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude]
Psalm 119 gives us a bird's-eye view of how invaluable studying God’s word is.
As we face trials in life, the Word of God which we have stored up in our spirits, helps us to overcome, the Word of God is the sword of the Spirit. You can imagine a soldier in a battle without a sword or weapon of attack, that is what happens when we don’t study the Word, we become easy prey for the enemy.
Eph 6:17 (NKJV)
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
Prayer
Father give me a fresh hunger and passion for your Word, a strong desire to study and meditate on your Word. Grant me grace to yield, whenever I’m prompted by your Spirit to study your Word.
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