Go to this people and say, “You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.” For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them. ~Acts 28:25-27 (NIV)
These scriptures reveal God’s method of healing us, spirit, soul, and body. We must first see and hear before we can understand with our hearts. The Lord teaches us in Romans 10:17 “So, faith comes from listening, but it’s listening by means of Christ’s message.” (CEB) Faith comes from listening to the word of God. Once we hear the word, we are able to understand with our hearts. It’s only when we understand with our heart that we can bow our wills, and when we do, God promises healing and restoration. God’s word changes us through focus, repetition, and application. Focus and repetition can be difficult in the beginning. Just like forming any new habit, it takes time and commitment. The Lord does not request we invest our time, He says it is required if we ever want to see a full restoration of all that has been stolen in our lives by the enemy. All the peace, all the rest, all the joy and provision that we do not believe we deserve because of the strongholds of shame and unforgiveness we hold towards ourselves. We have an enemy and he has been slowly taking from us since day one on this earth. God wants to restore that and although we will never truly experience heaven until we get there, God says we can have an amazing life if we are willing to trust Him, do it His way and see ourselves as His child!
Learning to focus on God’s word and creating habits of daily spending time with Him in prayer and in His presence are important to our progress but applying God’s word to our lives is how we show ourselves and others we believe what God has said to us. We are told in Joshua 1:8 “This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success.” (AMPCE) What we speak about and what we meditate on will eventually become what we do. Think of the last sermon you heard or the last bible study you did. Sit down and write out the details God impressed upon you during that time with Him. If you haven't applied that word somewhere in your life, it is highly likely you don’t even remember it. Take for instance Psalm 62:8 where we are told “Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to Him. For God is our refuge.” (NIV) Are you living that word? Are you trusting in God all times? Are you pouring out your heart to Him? That is application. That is applying God’s word to your life, and it will make you prosperous and you will deal wisely and have good success when you are doing what is written in God’s handbook for your life…aka the Bible! God's word is alive and pertinent for every situation, every day of your life. Make it a point to do what God reveals to you from His word. Hear, Understand, Turn, and be Changed.
So repent (change your mind and purpose); turn around and return [to God], that your sins may be erased (blotted out, wiped clean), that times of refreshing (of recovering from the effects of heat, of reviving with fresh air) may come from the presence of the Lord ~Acts 3:19 (AMPCE)
What word from God are you applying to your life today?
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