I know, it sounds hokey. What’s the deal with Neil wanting us to read his stuff out loud? And often?
If you go back and read what Neil has written, it’s all
based directly on scripture. He combines
and shortens, but God’s word is there.
Here’s the thing – God’s word isn’t like any other book ever
written. It was God-breathed and has
power to change our lives (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
It’s not a static thing; here’s what Hebrews says:
For the word of God is
full of living power. It is sharper than
the sharpest knife, cutting deep into our innermost thoughts and desires… Hebrews 4:12
If I remember right, in the NIV, the first part uses the
phrase “living and active.” Think about
that – it is God’s breath, it’s alive, and it is an agent of change for us…
And about reading aloud…
There’s power in the spoken word in the spiritual realm. We won’t understand it all this side of
heaven, but here’s what Isaiah says:
The rain and the snow
come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed
for the farmer and bread for the hungry.
It is the same with My word. I
send it out and it always produces fruit.
It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I
send it. Isaiah 55:10-11
As we wind down to the last day of the year, I’m thankful to
be drawn back to the sense of awe for God’s word; I’m looking forward to
digging in deep in the new year.
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