Alive and Powerful in You

Scripture Reading: Hebrews 4:12

Today's Treasure: "For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12, AMP).

Recently my husband (and sometimes resident cynic), Keith, asked me why all of a sudden everyone at church seems to be talking about having a "life verse." I shrugged and explained that certain buzzwords and phrases seem to come and go in church culture. I told him that a life verse appears to be a Scripture a believer feels most captures his or her testimony or relationship with God. He asked me what I thought mine was, and I quipped, "Repent, lest ye die." (After my past history of sin, God and I have an agreement. If any fruit comes from my life, I give Him all the glory, and He lets me live.) After Keith and I shared a good belly laugh, I gave the question some thought.

I seem to have a new favorite verse every day, but Living Proof Ministries derived its name and purpose from Hebrews 4:12, a Scripture God used to steer an entirely new direction for my life. The Amplified Bible expresses it best: "For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart."

Alive, active, operative, energizing, effective. Pretty impressive elements, don't you think?

Don't miss the crucial tie between the Word of God and the people of God in this verse. God not only told us that His Word is alive, effective, and powerful on its own—He insisted that it is alive, effective, and powerful in us when we receive it. Pause and let that truth sink in. I'm convinced most of us don't begin to appreciate and assimilate this revolutionary precept. Unlike any other text, the Word of God has supernatural effects for those who receive it by faith. When we receive it by reading it, meditating on it, believing it, and applying it, the life of the Word becomes lively in us. The power of God's Word becomes powerful in us. The activity of the Word becomes active in us. The operations of the Word become operative in us. The effectiveness of the Word becomes effective in us. In fact, according to Hebrews 4:12, when we receive God's Word, it invades every part of our being, even the marrow of our bones and the motives of our hearts.

God doesn't just speak to hear the sound of His own voice. Interestingly, neither does He speak to be heard by others. He speaks in order to accomplish. This aim proves consistent from the beginning of time. Genesis 1:3 records the first words out of His mouth where humankind is concerned: "And God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light." Isaiah 55:10-11 expresses the intention of His Word: "As the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."

God's Word possesses accomplishing power and achieving power. That's a fact. But I want it to have accomplishing and achieving power in me. Thankfully, so does God. One of the most prominent changes in my approach to God is that I've become very intentional about thanking Him for the quickening power of His Word in me, claiming and believing that He is energizing it to accomplish and achieve His desires, even at the very moment I receive it. As I sit before God on my back porch every morning and place that day's schedule and petitions before Him in prayer, I receive my daily Bible reading like an athlete might eat an energy bar. I often read that day's portion of the Word aloud and actively participate in receiving it into my belief system. (I do this by taking a moment to meditate on it. I might ask myself questions like: "Do I really believe these words? And, if I do, how does it show? Are there ways I might be able to act on the truth of these words today? How do these words apply to my present challenges and petitions?" I also ask Him to take those words and sow them deep into my otherwise deceptive heart and even into my subconscious mind.) I count on those Scriptures in my morning Bible reading to become active, energizing, and powerful in me that day. And they do, because that's what they were meant to do.

I have loved God's Word for a long time, but my approach and expectation have changed dramatically as my confidence in Him has grown. In the old days I used to expect a little direction and the increase of a little knowledge from my daily Bible reading; therefore, those were the dividends I was most often aware of receiving. Now I add to those expectations liveliness, energy, and empowerment from the Word, counting on its effectiveness in advance. As I go through my day meeting inevitable challenges and self-doubts, I will often think or say aloud, "Lord, Your Word is alive and active in me today, and I thank You for its achieving and accomplishing power. Make it effective in me today and make me effective in You today."

If your expectation of God's Word in your life has been small, I'm asking you to consider giving it far more credit. Second Timothy 3:16 says, "All Scripture is God breathed," so don't just read it like any other inspirational or instructional text. Inhale it! Jeremiah 15:16 says, "Your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart's delight, for I bear your name, O LORD God Almighty." Don't just read God's Words. Receive them like a famished man at a feast. Whether we imagine inhaling it or devouring it, "let the word of Christ dwell in [us] richly" (Col. 3:16). Believe God to accomplish and achieve something eternal and intentional through your Scripture meditation every single day. Grow in confidence that every word abiding in you is having powerful effects.

Lord, Your Word is alive and active in me today. Forgive me for the times I have expected so little from it. Thank You for opening my eyes to the power it contains! I pray for new fervor and energized belief as I read, inhale and consume Your Scriptures. Make Your Word effective in me today and make me effective in You. In the mighty name of the Word, Himself, Amen.

Adapted from Believing God, by Beth Moore, pages 123-129. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 2004. Used by permission.