Thank you so much for joining my blog! I received so much feedback after my last email letter. You would be amazed at how many of you saw yourselves as being completely like 'Martha'! Which made my heart glad, because it shows you are not lazy or idle, and most importantly, you recognise the need to keep God and His Word first place in your lives. And you of all people, will actually do something about it! Why? Because you are wired to 'do', and not just 'talk'.
So, it turns out that we seem to have more in common with Martha than we thought. Remember how she had the privilege of the Teacher being in her house that day? Well, according to the Word, we have the same Teacher resident in our's too. I'm not talking about our brick and water houses, I'm talking about our reborn spirits, where the Spirit of Jesus dwells! In John 16:13-15, Jesus was telling his disciples about us. He told them the day would come when people would have His Spirit living inside of them, continually guiding them into full truth, which is the Word of God.
So, it turns out that we seem to have more in common with Martha than we thought. Remember how she had the privilege of the Teacher being in her house that day? Well, according to the Word, we have the same Teacher resident in our's too. I'm not talking about our brick and water houses, I'm talking about our reborn spirits, where the Spirit of Jesus dwells! In John 16:13-15, Jesus was telling his disciples about us. He told them the day would come when people would have His Spirit living inside of them, continually guiding them into full truth, which is the Word of God.
Why is the Word so important that God insists in Proverbs that we make it the 'principle thing'? And why would He go to the trouble to make sure we would have a resident (live-in) teacher, to help us understand and grasp its wisdom for our lives?
Because God's Word is spirit and life (John 6:63), and His wisdom is peace (James 3:17). In fact, the Amplified Bible explains the peace we receive from God's Word as, "... perfect well-being, all necessary good, all spiritual prosperity, and freedom from fears and agitating passions and moral conflicts." Are you kidding me? Are we really too busy to not make time to get that kind of peace for our lives?
When I was mulling over the definition of God's peace that comes from His Word, I found myself remembering a conversation I had with the Lord when I was a teenager. Funny how certain moments in our lives, no matter how far in the past, remain as clear today as they were the moment they happened. I remember pouring out my heart, and telling Him how impressed I was with Him. Not for the fact that He was GOD, but that being GOD, He was so willing and interested to be a part of my life and spend time with me - an insignificant, somewhat awkward and teenager. His response spoke straight into my spirit with a question: "What do you want?". Instinctively, I knew this wasn't an invitation for a request for 'stuff' or any immediate need, it was a question directed at my destiny. He was asking me what I wanted from life, at that moment and in the future. I didn't even have to think about it, the answer came out so spontaneously and so sure: I wanted to be happy. Wherever I would go on my journey in life, I wanted to feel at peace, be fulfilled and have a sense of perfect well-being.
I know now, that's God's perfect desire for everyone of His children. To always have that sense of peace and well-being, (the Amplified Bible calls in tranquility inside and out), no matter where we are, or what we find ourselves doing. The only way we can live in that peace, is by personally experiencing the Word of God, doing its perfect work in our lives. And we can't do it by ourselves! We have the Holy Spirit within us, making the Word we pay attention to, alive and clear and perfectly doable to us!
I did a little studying, the Greek word for peace, expresses the idea of wholeness, completeness, and tranquility of the soul. It gives the picture of someone who is unaffected by outward circumstances or pressures, and suggests the rule of order in a place of chaos. Rick Renner, a Greek scholar, wrote in his book Sparkling Gems, "A person who is dominated by peace has a calm, inner stability, enabling him to conduct himself peacefully in the midst of traumatic or upsetting circumstances."
The Hebrew word for peace, means nothing missing, nothing broken. It suggests that when it dominates a persons life, it gives rise to prosperity in their soul. It renders a man whole, complete, stable and poised for blessing. (Sparkling Gems by Rick Renner).
Did you notice in those definitions and explanations of peace, the phrase, "a person dominated by peace is ....." ?
Since we know true, supernatural peace, comes from the Word of God, we should also realise that until it dominates our lives, it cannot produce the life and peace we long for. Wisdom from God's Word must have a commanding influence over the way we think, the words we speak and the things we do in order for its power to flow.
That's why God puts such emphasis on making His Word our top priority. Jesus said it's the only way we can truly abide in Him ("...If my words abide in you..."), and have His life operate in us (John 15:4). The Word must become that ONE THING!
So, my fellow Martha's, let's take action and steer our lives in the course of making spending time in God's Word, our vital necessity. It's the only way we are going to live in that sure, secure, supernatural peace. Hebrews 6:19, says we can trust the Word to be the anchor of our souls: "Now, we have this [hope] as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, it cannot slip and it cannot break down under whoever steps out upon it.."
Until next time, happy sailing,
Jenny
Because God's Word is spirit and life (John 6:63), and His wisdom is peace (James 3:17). In fact, the Amplified Bible explains the peace we receive from God's Word as, "... perfect well-being, all necessary good, all spiritual prosperity, and freedom from fears and agitating passions and moral conflicts." Are you kidding me? Are we really too busy to not make time to get that kind of peace for our lives?
When I was mulling over the definition of God's peace that comes from His Word, I found myself remembering a conversation I had with the Lord when I was a teenager. Funny how certain moments in our lives, no matter how far in the past, remain as clear today as they were the moment they happened. I remember pouring out my heart, and telling Him how impressed I was with Him. Not for the fact that He was GOD, but that being GOD, He was so willing and interested to be a part of my life and spend time with me - an insignificant, somewhat awkward and teenager. His response spoke straight into my spirit with a question: "What do you want?". Instinctively, I knew this wasn't an invitation for a request for 'stuff' or any immediate need, it was a question directed at my destiny. He was asking me what I wanted from life, at that moment and in the future. I didn't even have to think about it, the answer came out so spontaneously and so sure: I wanted to be happy. Wherever I would go on my journey in life, I wanted to feel at peace, be fulfilled and have a sense of perfect well-being.
I know now, that's God's perfect desire for everyone of His children. To always have that sense of peace and well-being, (the Amplified Bible calls in tranquility inside and out), no matter where we are, or what we find ourselves doing. The only way we can live in that peace, is by personally experiencing the Word of God, doing its perfect work in our lives. And we can't do it by ourselves! We have the Holy Spirit within us, making the Word we pay attention to, alive and clear and perfectly doable to us!
I did a little studying, the Greek word for peace, expresses the idea of wholeness, completeness, and tranquility of the soul. It gives the picture of someone who is unaffected by outward circumstances or pressures, and suggests the rule of order in a place of chaos. Rick Renner, a Greek scholar, wrote in his book Sparkling Gems, "A person who is dominated by peace has a calm, inner stability, enabling him to conduct himself peacefully in the midst of traumatic or upsetting circumstances."
The Hebrew word for peace, means nothing missing, nothing broken. It suggests that when it dominates a persons life, it gives rise to prosperity in their soul. It renders a man whole, complete, stable and poised for blessing. (Sparkling Gems by Rick Renner).
Did you notice in those definitions and explanations of peace, the phrase, "a person dominated by peace is ....." ?
Since we know true, supernatural peace, comes from the Word of God, we should also realise that until it dominates our lives, it cannot produce the life and peace we long for. Wisdom from God's Word must have a commanding influence over the way we think, the words we speak and the things we do in order for its power to flow.
That's why God puts such emphasis on making His Word our top priority. Jesus said it's the only way we can truly abide in Him ("...If my words abide in you..."), and have His life operate in us (John 15:4). The Word must become that ONE THING!
So, my fellow Martha's, let's take action and steer our lives in the course of making spending time in God's Word, our vital necessity. It's the only way we are going to live in that sure, secure, supernatural peace. Hebrews 6:19, says we can trust the Word to be the anchor of our souls: "Now, we have this [hope] as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, it cannot slip and it cannot break down under whoever steps out upon it.."
Until next time, happy sailing,
Jenny
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