Devotionals for the Heart: God's Word

God’s Word
A devotional by Glynis Becker

“The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.” –Psalm 19:7-8 (ESV)

I credit my mother for my love of books.

Even before I could remember, she would sit me on her lap with a stack of books and we read together for hours. She always had a book sitting next to her chair. Reading was her favorite hobby. When I grew up and we started reading some of the same books, she and I would have great conversations about the books we loved. What a joy it is to share a love of reading!

My mother also taught me a love for God’s Word (The Holy Bible). She and my dad both made it a priority to read and study the Bible, memorize verses, and discuss them. They ensured my sister and I grew up knowing the importance of reading scripture not just to read it, but to believe and live it.

My own journey with the Bible has fluctuated over the years. During some seasons of my life, I have been in the Word consistently, but when I’m out of the habit, it’s hard to get back into it. I also have had times when reading the Bible felt like an obligation to check off my to-do list in order to be a “good” Christian. In January of this year, I started a two-year chronological reading plan. Right now I’m in the book of Psalms where I was reminded again how David and the other writers talk over and over about their love for God’s words.

Of course, their version of the scriptures was very different than ours. They only had parts of the Old Testament, because they were living and writing the scriptures we have today! It amazes me to think that as God was instilling in them a love for His Word, their response to that love became His own words that we can now meditate on to uplift, encourage, rebuke, discipline, teach, and inspire us today.

Here are just a few verses from the Psalms that tell us about God and His Word. All the following scriptures are from the English Standard Version.

Psalm 1:1-2 says, “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.”

My Reflection: I believe this shows us a beautiful cycle of growth and maturity in faith because as we meditate, pray, and study God’s words, we will no longer find ourselves following the crowds of sinners and scoffers. And the less we do that, the more we will want to pray and study, which will mature us even more.

Psalm 33:6 says, “By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host.”

My Reflection: We should never forget that the voice we hear when we read God’s Word and when we pray is also the voice that created the earth from nothing. We should continue to be awestruck that God wants to speak to us in a personal way!

Psalm 119:10-11 says, “With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”

My Reflection: We should strive to continually seek God and learn His words so that we will keep from temptation and sin.

If you are in a season of deep Bible study and meditation, then keep it up! But if you haven’t read the Bible in a while, take a moment and pray for the desire to know God in a deeper way through His Word. He won’t disappoint!

Let’s Pray: Dear Heavenly Father, give me a desire to seek You always. Speak to me through Your Word and help me love Your words more and more each day. I pray this in Jesus’s Name. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Thy Word” by Amy Grant. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Glynis Becker writes devotions and inspirational fiction, hoping someday to have a published novel on her resume. 

She has co-written several screenplays, including the film Sinking Sand, available on DVD and digital streaming.

Glynis, whose childhood was spent all over the country as an Air Force brat, has called South Dakota home for many years, along with her husband and two college-age children.

When she’s not writing or reading, she is watching more television than she should and crocheting.

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Connect with Glynis:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beckerglynis/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GlynisBecker7