JOURNALING YOUR JOURNEY

 
WHERE’S JESUS WHERE’S THE WORD TODAY?  GOD’S PEOPLE TREASURE HIS CURRENT LIVING WORD. THEY GATHER THE TRUTH EMBODIED IN THE WORD. Samuel did not let God’s word slip away. He listened. “The LORD was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of his words fall to the ground” (1Sam. 3:19). Moses heard that “ … man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD” (Deut. 8:3). Jesus said, "It is written: Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Mt. 4:4). Jeremiah’s testimony: “When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart's delight, for I bear your name, O Lord God Almighty (Jer. 15:16). THE PROCESS  STOP Ps. 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. LOOK Ps. 123:1 I lift up my eyes to you, to you whose throne is in heaven, As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maid look to the hand of her mistress, our eyes look to the Lord our God, till he shows us his mercy. NIV Ps. 123:1 Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the Lord our God, until that he have mercy upon us. KJV LISTEN Is. 50:4b-5 …He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught. The sovereign Lord has opened my ears and I have not been rebellious; I have not drawn back. NIV Isa. 30:21 Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it." 1Sa. 3:19 The LORD was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of his words fall to the ground. Samuel did not let God’s words slip away. He listened. HOW’S YOUR HEARING? John 12:27-30 illustrates three groups of people with three different sensibilities to hearing God’s voice. Jn. 12:27-30 "Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!" 1) “Then a voice came from heaven, I have glorified it, and will glorify it again. The crowd said 2) it had thundered; 3) others said an angel had spoken to him.  Jesus said, "This voice was for your benefit, not mine.” How’s your hearing? MY COMMITMENT  I see the value of treasuring God’s words to me. He is the Word, the Living Word that is communicated through whatever means He chooses, as seen in Scripture. I will keep a record of what the Lord is speaking to my heart. I want to journal, and become His journal, a messenger of His Word to others. MY CHALLENGE   Journal your talks with God. He hears us, and we definitely need to hear Him. His words to our hearts and minds are life. His words embody truth, which is the only wealth of eternal value, something that you can possess forever, and ever, and ever, and then forevermore. There are numerous ways to journal. You can write volumes or jot down a few nugget words that trigger the fuller meaning of what God is saying. Some prefer fine leather notebooks to be filled with many words. Others like pocket size pads for easy access, good for on-the-spot writing, the moment God speaks. The choices are endless. The choice is yours. The central issue is that we love enough to listen, and record on paper that which God wants to write on our hearts. Remember Samuel “…grew, and the Lord was with him, and did not let any of God’s words fall to the ground” (1 Sam. 3:19). Get the message - listen and write Be the message - meditate and do Spread the message - exemplify “OPEN MY EARS, OH LORD, I WANT TO HEAR YOU.”