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There is Power in the Word
Andrea Lende • May 20, 2021
James 1:19 and 21
There is Power in the Word
You can also listen to the devotion and prayer at: https://anchor.fm/andrea-lende/episodes/There-is-Power-in-the-Word-e117uul
James 1:19 and 21
“Understand [this], my beloved brethren. Let every man be quick to hear [a ready listener], slow to speak, slow to take offense and to get angry.”
“So, get rid of all uncleanness and the rampant outgrowth of wickedness, and in a humble (gentle, modest) spirit, receive and welcome the Word which implanted and rooted [in your hearts] contains the power to save your souls.”
Wise words written by James!
He tells us to be “quick to hear [a ready listener].”
I need this reminder every day because I don’t always want to listen.
Sometimes I’m thinking of something else and don’t want to be disturbed.
Sometimes I just get impatient.
And other times I’d rather be talking than listening which leads me to James’ next wise word of advice.
Be “slow to speak.”
Once words are said, they cannot be unsaid or unheard.
There is power in our words.
We have the power to inspire and build up or tear down.
I have to admit, I’d rather be talking than listening.
Must do better here.
James said to be “slow to take offense.”
I need more of this wisdom as well.
I am offended too easily which only puts a barrier between me and the other person, or even God.
I wonder how God could let something that I seemingly don’t deserve happen.
And then I discover the lesson hidden inside of the pain.
The lesson I need to learn in order to move forward in God’s plan.
So, how do we win this war waged against our natural human instincts?
James gives us the answer in our second passage.
James tells us to be humble and gentle and receive the Word into our hearts.
We cannot overcome our instincts and quick responses without the Word.
And a lot of it.
He says the power of the Word can save our souls.
I have certainly found this to be true in my little world.
The more I read about God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and all the followers in the Bible, the more my heart is softened and transformed.
I find the Lord in His Word.
I find His compassion and love.
My desires become more aligned with His when I read His Word.
Today I choose to learn more about the Lord so He can shepherd my heart and make me more like Him.
May you find as you spend time in the Word you find more of God’s heart while He transforms yours.
Daily Prayer:
O Lord, my God, thank You for showing me to desire listening more often than speaking out. Thank You for showing me to not be so easily offended by others. Strengthen me in You so I am unhurt by the things of this world. Humble me so I prefer another over myself. Help me serve instead of desire to be served. Help me lower myself so You can raise me up where You choose. Please continue to teach me through Your Word, Lord. Keep me seeking You so Your ways are planted in my heart. I desire to be more like You and less like me. May Your desires be my desires. May Your will be my will. Put joy in my heart as I serve You. Help me bless someone this day. Thank You for hearing my prayer.
Answer: I AM teaching you as read My Word and listen to the still small voice of My Spirit.
Response: Help me learn of You, most gracious God.
We start a New Year! How exciting! Paul had just finished telling the Ephesians to put off their old nature. They had been run around by their feelings and desires. He told them to be renewed in their spirit. The Amplified Bible defines this to be “having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude.” As we say goodbye to this year, let us put on the new and leave the old behind. We have an opportunity to reflect on what to bring forward into this New Year.
This is a great message for the New Year. We can be in control of our own words. As a mother, I used to tell my children to use their words to explain what was happening in their minds. I tried to help them find the right words. Words that would help the situation and not make it worse. I must do the same thing when talking to them. It’s important to use words that do not damage their spirits. Words that lift up instead of tear down. Even though my children have grown, I still want to be careful how I speak to them because my worlds will impact them for the rest of their lives.
As we approach the New Year, it is a perfect time to take inventory of what part of our lives, our hearts, and our souls are not bearing fruit. What can we give up as this year comes to a close? What do we need to give to the Lord for His cleansing and pruning? The answers to these questions take time. Time with the Lord. We are creatures of routines and habits which serve us well. But we can also change our routines and habits to serve us and the Lord better. So, we can ask God to show us what He wants us to give up so that He can have more of us.
I cannot think of a better verse to meditate on as we approach the New Year. Jesus said, "the kingdom of God is within you [in your hearts] and among you [surrounding you]." For so many years I believed I had to wait to go to heaven to experience the kingdom of God. I have longed to step into heaven and meet the Lord and His Son. However, as we read the Gospels and study Jesus and all that He said, we begin to understand the kingdom of God is all around us. The kingdom of God is within.
Paul wrote to the Colossians and told them he was praying for them. He prayed they would be refreshed, renewed, and invigorated. He also prayed they would be strengthened. May his prayer be heard by the Lord God Almighty on our behalf today just as it was received two thousand years ago. God is the Source of all things beautiful and wonderful. There is no shortage of renewal, refreshment, or inspiration in His kingdom. And as the Creator of this universe, He continues to pour all good things into His people. Paul wrote that refreshment and strength are needed so we may have endurance.
This verse is the perfect verse to reflect on as Christmas comes to a close. The Lord sent His Son to us. He sent Him to this world as a babe. Jesus was given the task of growing up. A difficult one for all of us. He endured the awkward stages we all go through as we grow past them. I look back at old picture and cringe, yes, I cringe. This life provides plenty of opportunities to feel awkward and just plain weird, but our Father loves us as though we are perfect every day of our lives. This is why Jesus came. He came to make us perfect in God’s sight.
God made Himself flesh so He could take away the sins of the world. The story of the very first Christmas was humble, yet the most powerful and loving birth ever recorded in history. All humanity changed in an instant. When Jesus was born, love filled the earth. Love came down and lifted us up. The angels came to tell the shepherds of this beautiful birth. The stars in the heavens also told the story. As we do all tasks that we do to ensure a beautiful Christmas day, may we remember the miracle that God sent long ago. The miracle of all miracles.
The first Christmas was going to be documented, so that it could be read many times over for all Christmas’ to come. It was also documented so the prophecy of the Messiah’s birth would be known to be fulfilled. Prophets of old foretold Jesus would come from the house of David. They also prophesied that He would be born in Bethlehem. And all this came to pass. Even though Jesus would be known as a Nazarene, His beginning began in Bethlehem. God’s divine plan was set in motion with the first census while Mary was at the end of her pregnancy.
What a wonderful passage to read during Christmas week. Our passage touched my heart as I read it through the lens of Jesus’ birth. “It was God [personally present] in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself.” We have so much to be thankful for in these few short words, “restoring the world to favor with Himself.” So undeserved and yet so graciously given. We are offered favor with the Lord. Imagine having favor with the almighty God, the Creator of the universe. Jesus chose to leave heaven’s door where all was perfect. He chose to be born into this dusty messy world.
Jesus had just spoken to a fig tree and deemed it unworthy to live because it had no fruit on it. His disciples were amazed when they saw the fig tree wither and die. Then the Lord talked to them about prayer and belief. He told them that whatever they asked for, if they had the faith and belief, they would receive it. I remember the day I started hearing music and lyrics. I had just bowed my head at the piano and asked if the Lord would bless praise and worship music. As soon as I prayed that prayer, the Lord bestowed the gift of song writing upon me.