Flashback Friday Devotion #36 [Word of God, Speak]

Hi, Everyone.
Today's devotion is from my personal journal dated May 14, 2007. As always, I love to hear how God speaks to you, through His Word and my comments. Have a great weekend.

Flashback Friday Devotion #36 [Word of God, Speak]

     This has been an "emotional" day. I've been rather preoccupied, but I so needed to spend time with the Lord. I had good seasons of prayer, then went to the Word. The 23rd Psalm came to my mind, so I turned to it (even though I know it by heart).
     After reading the 23rd Psalm slowly, out loud, I meditated on it for a time. I just began praising God for His Word, and I said, "Oh, Father, how I love how Your Word nourishes me."
     The moment I said the word "nourishes," I knew that was what the Lord wanted me to focus on today. I didn't think the word "nourish" would be in the Bible (although I found it later), so I looked up "feed" and "fed" in the Concordance.
     I found Hosea 11:4, which says, "I [God] led them with cords of a man, with hands of love, and I became to them as one who lifts the yoke from their jaws; and I bent down and fed them." Oh, my...isn't that beautiful!
     How we are led by the Love of God! How able He is to lift the yoke from us, even "the yoke from [our] jaws"!
     How we are fed by the Hand of the Lord! How we are blessed to "eat" at His table! How He sustains the soul and strengthens the heart! How He nourishes us!
     I know that if I am to lose this weight, I must grow spiritually, to where I am consistently exercising self-control in the area of eating. The key is to be nourished by Christ, through God's Word.
     I found the word "nourished" in I Timothy 4:6. In chapter 4, Paul gives Timothy some warnings, then tells Timothy what he should do and why. "In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following." I like that... "nourished on the words of faith."
     I know it's not enough just to read the Word. It must get down deep into my heart and soul. I must allow it to renew my mind. Most of all, I must allow it to change me, as I apply it to my life. Jesus said, "...My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work." Can I say the same? I want to be able to say that.
     There's a definite progression, in how one interacts with God's Word:
          Read it.
          Meditate on it.
          Be a "doer" of it.
          Be changed by it.
     I want to WANT the Word more than I want to eat! That's the way to true nourishment.

Today, think about all the ways you are nourished (food, fellowship, feeding on the Word). Which one is the most "filling," for you? If you are hungry (or even starving) to be fed by God and His Word, determine to spend time each day, feeding on the Word. Listen to "Word of God Speak" by MercyMe. http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=b29d30caa170c0 db0ed3 

Blessings,
Mary